History Attractions in Banff

Banff has a lot of museums for a town its size. These museums are a major attraction for tourists and visitors to Banff. Each museum helps tell a unique part of Banff story and history. The Banff Park Museum tells the story of Banff's natural history. Inside, visitors can walk past life size models of the wildlife in Banff National Park and learn all about the plants and animals that call Banff home. The Luxton Museum keeps the stories and history of the First Nations people alive. The Bow Valley has been populated by humans for over 10,000 years. It is at this fort-like museum that you can learn the about the traditions that sustained these cultures. The Whyte Museum covers the story of European settlement and celebrates the artistic life of Western Canada, particularly that of the Rocky Mountains. The Whyte Museum holds the archive for the town of Banff, as well.

Cave and Basin is a fun place to explore. This is the original Banff hot springs, the initial draw for tourists to journey to Banff. It no longer is a natural hot pool, but the site is an important historical area. Brewster Adventures is Banff's oldest tour guide company. It has been in business for over 100 years, and it would have brought many of the first visitors to the Banff Springs Hotel and the Cave and Basin by horseback. Brewster still offers back-country horseback vacations.

Archeological artifacts have been uncovered along many of the lake shores in Banff, such as Lake Minnewanka and the Vermilion Lakes. These Bow Valley area lakes have been home to First Nations people for thousands of years, and remains of obsidian arrows and stone tools can be found in these areas.

The Banff Springs Golf Course is one of Canada's most famous, and oldest, golf courses. It is host to a number of significant tournaments, and is a historical landmark to the game of golf in Canada.

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