Officially Kicks Off Its 2022 Visitor Season
Canadians Can Get Ready To Make Some Wonderful Memories While They Connect With History In Longview!
Longview, Alberta: The network of protected areas administered by Parks Canada is a gateway to nature, history, and 450 000 km² of memories from coast to coast to coast.
Bar U Ranch National Historic Site is now welcoming visitors for the 2022 visitor season. This season, the Bar U Ranch will be offering new activities, including the Roland Gissing Gallery in our Visitor Centre. Discover the undeniable beauty of Alberta’s landscape captured in the historic artworks of Gissing paintings, Gissing’s custom saddle, sketchbooks, and other personal effects also on display.
Roland Gissing Gallery
Explore the newest addition to the visitor centre, the Roland Gissing Gallery. Discover the undeniable beauty of Alberta’s landscape captured in the historic artworks of Gissing paintings. His work can be found in the collections of Queen Elizabeth II, Glenbow Museum, and Alberta Foundation for the Arts.
Moving to Canada from England in 1913, Gissing rode the range from the Peace River Country as far south as Mexico working on ranches and sketching along the way. Gissing later purchased land near the junction of the Ghost and Bow rivers west of Cochrane, Alberta. View Gissing’s custom saddle, sketchbooks, and other personal effects.
Stoney Nakoda Tipi
There is a historic relationship between foothills ranches and the Bearspaw Nation of the Stoney Nakoda, as well as other Indigenous groups. A diverse workforce, especially Indigenous people, played a significant role in the history of Bar U Ranch. The ranch hosts members of the Bearspaw Stoney, who share their culture and perspectives at a tipi encampment. This encampment is representative of the transition between pre-Treaty 7 and post Treaty 7 Indigenous life and provides a window into these experiences and traditions.
Wagon Rides
Visitors can discover the Bar U Ranch by wagon as part of the self-guided visit. Complimentary wagon rides with an interpreter start at round-up camp and visit a variety of unique areas on the ranch. Wagon rides run for the half-hour and information on daily/weekly schedules will be available during the operational season. Wagon tours have limited capacity and are on a first-come, first-served basis.
Pekisko Creek Trail
The Bar U Ranch recently opened a 3-km trail, which includes a portion of the national historic site not often seen during a regular visit. Visitors can enjoy the sounds of the creek, tranquil rustic picnic spots and stunning mountain views. Guests will experience a range of cultural and natural history.
Visitors are asked to plan ahead by checking the website before they travel, , and to follow all signage and directions.
• Set in the rolling foothills of the Rockies, the Bar U Ranch is the only national historic site to commemorate the history and importance of ranching in Canada.
• The site has many historic buildings and structures, illustrating various stages of ranching development from 1882-1950, and is rich in cultural landscape features.
• Located one hour southwest of Calgary city limits at the intersection of Highways 22 and 540.
• Bar U Ranch features a visitor centre with restaurant.