Saskatchewan Heritage Sites
Heritage (adj.) – noting or relating to a product, place, etc., that evokes a nostalgic sense of tradition or history.[1]
If you didn’t know already (I’m sure you did!) Saskatchewan is a pretty COOL place to live! The Boreal Forest, 100,000+ lakes, stunning sunrises and sunsets and possibly a bit lesser-known, SK is home to some incredible heritage sites.
Claybank Brick Plant National Historic Site – just 1km east of Claybank on highway 339, the Claybank Brick Plant offers a variety of things to see and do. The site was established single-handedly in 1886 by Tom McWilliams after discovering refractory clay in the Dirt Hills. In 1904, McWilliams entered into a formal agreement with Moose Jaw Fire Brick and Pottery Company who would eventually rename as Saskatchewan Clay Products and build the brick plant in 1912. The Claybank Brick Plant proved quite successful and operated until 1989.
Today, a visit to Claybank offers the opportunity to see the well-preserved brick manufacturing site, go for a hike in the clay canyons and relax and refresh in the Bunkhouse Café!
Open: 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Thursday to Monday until September 4.
Big Muddy Badlands – not far from Coronach, in what was once the Wild West, Big Muddy is best known for the outlaws who hid out in its caves and buttes. The stories of famed bandits like Sam Kelly and the Sundance Kid are woven into Big Muddy’s history and make for an exciting tourist attraction.
Today, visitors can take guided tours of the caves and hike the buttes, including Castle Butte. Standing roughly 70 metres high, Castle Butte boasts breathtaking views and served as a landmark for Indigenous people, the North West Mounted Police (known today as the RCMP) and early Saskatchewan settlers. If you’ve never been, Big Muddy offers a SK experience like no other!
Open: call or book online to reserve your tour spot!
Batoche National Historic Site – approximately an hour North of Saskatoon on the banks of the South Saskatchewan River and home of the great Battle of Batoche, where Louis Riel made his final stand against the Canadian Government, Batoche National Historic Site offers visitors a chance to time-travel and experience a first-hand look at the history of Metis in SK.
Today, a visit to Batoche includes incredible views from three sets of viewfinders, kid’s activities and interactive exhibits and much more!
Open: 9:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. Monday to Friday until September 29.
Fort Walsh National Historic Site – the story of Fort Walsh (as we know it) starts in the 1870s and has a ‘lawless’ beginning. As a result, Fort Walsh, named for Inspector James Morrow Walsh, is one of the first establishments of the North West Mounted Police (NWMP) in western Canada and would be it’s headquarters in Saskatchewan until 1882 when it was moved to Regina. In 1942, the land at Fort Walsh was transferred back to the ownership of the RCMP (formerly the NWMP) and shortly after construction began to rebuild some of the ground’s original buildings.
Today, these buildings are a tourist attraction in the Cypress Hills area and home to the rich, full history of Fort Walsh.
Open: daily until September 4, 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. and September 5-30, Tuesday to Saturday, 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
These four are just a few of the many great heritage sites across the province. Next time you’re deciding on a close-to-home destination for a day or weekend trip, don’t forget to include our heritage sites as candidates for your travels, you won’t be disappointed!
-Paige Sandvold is a Marketing Manager on the Revenue Growth
Team at Directwest
[1] https://www.dictionary.com/browse/heritage