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  1. C.N.R. STATION -The railroad reached Athabasca in 1912 the end of steel. The station closed in 1973.

  2. PIONEER CAIRN -Dedicated in memory of the pioneers who devoted their lives to the development of the Athabasca District.

  3. STEAM ENGINE -A 1915 model 75- 25 H.P., 2 Cylinder. Remple-Stelter bought it for their lumber mill at Lawrence Lake just after World War II. It was later purchased by Northland Utilities. This engine was the type used in earlier days for running the separator to thresh grain.

  4. CABOOSE -The caboose is operated by the Athabasca District Chamber of Commerce as a Tourist Information Centre from the May 24th long weekend to the Labour Day holiday in September. The caboose was obtained from the Canadian National Railways in 1984.

  5. AADAC -Alberta Alcohol and Drug Abuse Commission has had a presence in Athabasca for several years. They offer counseling, prevention, training services, and educational materials.

  6. ATHABASCA NATIVE FRIENDSHIP CENTRE -offers a new and used store, craft sales, native displays and photos, youth programs, outreach programs, folk music club, and educational activities and programs.

  7. MUSKEG CREEK -drains all the southwest country and enters the Athabasca River in the west end of town. This is a favorite fishing spot in the early spring.

  8. HIGHWAY NO. 2 -runs through town on its way to Slave Lake and ultimately to hook up with the Alaska Highway at Dawson Creek. At one time it was called the "Alcan Highway." During World War II, it was truly a military road.Convoys from the United States passed through town in endless numbers carrying men, supplies, and machines of war to Alaska. During the winter, when the convoys stopped overnight, they would leave their trucks running, as the temperature would drop to 50-60 degrees below zero. In the morning, there would be a blue haze of diesel smoke over the town. Cafes remained open all night to feed the weary truckers and the hotel was always full. Many had to use sleeping bags and sleep in the lobby of the hotel.

  9. KINSMEN BALL PARK -A favorite summer park for children and adults alike. This location is in use all summer.

  10. ATHABASCA UNIVERSITY - In 1980, it was announced that Athabasca would be the permanent home of Athabasca University. In the spring of 1983, construction started. As a distance education university, there is no campus,but rather university courses are delivered by mail, Internet, telephone and teleconference to students for home study. It has an enrollment of 30,000 students worldwide. Plans are now being formed for expansion.

  11. MUSKEG CREEK CHALET - A shelter, meeting place and picnic area. The chalet has a wood-burning stove and use is free to the public.

  12. MUSKEG CREEK TRAILS - Ten kilometers of natural trails for walking, running and cross-country skiing along the Muskeg Creek Valley. Trailhead is west of Landing Trail Intermediate School, and then returns to LTIS. It is well marked with short loops for the novice.

  13. LANDING TRAIL INTERMEDIATE SCHOOL (LTIS) - Built in 1965, Grades 4-7 are housed here. Besides regular classes, it has special education, special opportunity and French Immersion classes. There is a large gym, well-stocked library, art, music, and science rooms. The grounds contain ball diamonds, soccer fields, and playground areas. Present enrollment is about 400 pupils with 21 full-time teachers, 3 custodians, and 10 support staff.

  14. ROMAN CATHOLIC CHURCH - A Roman Catholic mission was first established in 1891, but there was no resident missionary until 1905. A small church was built in 1906, followed by a larger one, which burned and was replaced by the present one on the same site.

  15. ORIGINAL POLICE HEADQUARTERS (4804-52 St.)- Built in 1912 as a residence. It later served as the Alberta Provincial Police Headquarters from 1917 to 1932. The Royal Canadian Mounted Police used the building from 1932 to 1948.The R.C.M.P. family lived there and the office was in part of the 3-storey building.

  16. PLEASANT VALLEY LODGE was built in 1960 by the Provincial Government. The lodge can accommodate up to 43 physically independent seniors in pleasant and secure surroundings.

  17. EXTENDICARE ATHABASCA - Constructed in 1967, this home can care for up to 50 residents requiring full time care.

  18. SOUTH WEST RESIDENTIAL AREA - was developed between 1963 and 1976. More housing lots were needed for the families involved in the increasing natural resource extraction in the area.

  19. JEWELL INDUSTRIAL PARK - Zoned by the Town of Athabasca in 1976, this area was developed by Joe Jewell and partners to serveas the industrial segment of the town.

  20. JEWELL'S BALLPARK, CABIN, AND CAMPSITE - developed by the Jewell family because of their love of softball. At present, many people use this park for weddings, family reunions, club gatherings and ball tournaments. It is still a private park maintained by the Jewell family.

  21. HEES ESTATES - is a residential subdivision.

  22. ATHABASCA CURLING CLUB - The present rink, constructed in 1966, has four sheets of ice and an upstairs lounge area. Previously, there were two different rinks in the downtown area and the first sheets were located on the Tawatinaw River, near downtown.

  23. ARENA - built in 1972; the arena has enjoyed a very active season of hockey and figure skating ever since.

  24. TENNIS COURTS - located just to the west of the arena.

  25. JUBILEE PARK BALL DIAMONDS - These three baseball diamonds see very active summer days.

  26. EDWIN PARR COMPOSITE COMMUNITY SCHOOL (EPC) - was built in 1955 for students in Grade 8 to Grade 12. It was named for an early chairman of the School Division. There is a staff of 31 teachers and 25 support staff. Courses are held in vocational, commercial, and matriculation fields as well as drama, sports, and music. The grounds contain a ball diamond, athletic track, and 2 soccer fields.

  27. R.C.M.P .- site of the former RCMP barracks and offices.

  28. ROYAL CANADIAN LEGION - This location is the second in town for the Athabasca Branch and was constructed in 1984. The first Legion was built after World War I in 1926 on the site where the SAAN store is now situated. The Legion was the social center of the town for years- teas, parties and meetings. After World War II, a liquor license was obtained and so ended the "tea parties." The beautiful mural on the south wall that was designed and painted by Dennis Jacobs of Water Colour Memories was commissioned by the Legion in 1999. Memories of Vimy Ridge, World War I & II, and unpeace keepers are depicted. The Memorial Cenotaph was relocated across the street from the main building.

  29. Old brick schoolOLD BRICK SCHOOL - Constructed in 1913 after the great fire and now a designated Historic Site. Originally the school housed all grades and many students boarded through the week because transportation was too difficult to manage on a daily basis. Today it is the home of the Lions, Kinsmen, and Pottery clubs, Fish & Game organizations, and the Family Community Support Services Office.

  30. ALICE B. DONAHUE LIBRARY AND ARCHIVES - The library was established in 1946. This building, once known as the "Stucco School," now houses the town archives as well. These serve both town and county. There are two librarians as well as volunteers who give of their time. It's named the Alice B. Donahue Library and Archives in memory of a long-term board member.

  31. LANDING TRAIL - This trail was the main route used by early settlers and men on their way to the Peace River District and the Klondike Gold Rush. They walked or came by wagon train. Later the stagecoach, a two-seater democrat, took two days to make the a trip from Edmonton to the Landing. The Hudson's Bay Company established the first trail in 1875-76, connecting the North Saskatchewan River with the Athabasca River. David Thompson traveled this trail on his trips north.

  32. NANCY APPLEBY THEATRE OF PERFORMING ARTS - Located in the Brick School complex, the theatre opened in 1981. This lovely and unique theatre has provided the community with much entertainment, from big name stars to budding actresses and actors, and dance and theater groups. Although the seating capacity is only 280, the theatre has state of the art sound, and features multi level soft seating, a grand piano and all the accoutrements of larger theatres. The theatre is named for Nancy Appleby, a long-time music teacher in the community.

  33. LANDING POOL & TEEN CENTRE - The pool first opened in 1980. This all season recreational facility features a 5 lane, 25 metre pool with a 1 metre diving board, a 9 foot slide, 20*40 teaching pool, a whirl pool and sauna. The pool was made possible through the efforts of the Kinsmen Club of Athabasca. The teen center is a recent addition to the pool and is a favorite gathering for local teens. It features a meeting room and game room.

  34. MUNICIPAL ADMINISTRATION BUILDING, COUNCIL CHAMBERS, & RECREATION OFFICE - Town Office and Council Chambers are located on the street level floor and the Regional Recreation Office is located on the lower floor of this building.

  35. United ChurchUNITED CHURCH OF CANADA - was built in 1912 as a Methodist church. The building survived the fire which swept through the town in 1913. The church, when first built, was said to be the largest wooden structure in Western Canada. Early in the 1900's, Methodist missionaries worked in this area. It is a designated Alberta Provincial Historic Resource site.

  36. COMMUNITY CENTRE -Built in the 1940s and upgraded in 1996, this building has kitchen & banquet facilities for up to 300 people on the lower level and a stage and dance floor on the upper level. The Masonic, Eastern Star, and Royal Purple Lodge rooms are located upstairs. Many wedding and church banquets are held here plus a variety of other community events.

  37. CANADIAN IMPERIAL BANK OF COMMERCE - The CIBC was the first bank to locate in Athabasca, on this site in 1907. The original bank, as is the case with most of the original imperial Banks of Commerce, was a picturesque, two story building with manager's quarters on the second floor. Although beautifully designed using the best quality materials of the day, the original bank's limitation was the insulation. The ink would freeze. One of the earlier managers had a son, North Sawle, who became a famous northern bush pilot. The poet, Robert Service, is believed to have worked at the Imperial Bank and wrote a poem about the Athabasca River.

  38. TRACKERS' PARK -This one lot downtown park is located just a short distance south of the CIBC. The name,"Trackers Park," commemorates the men who pulled the scows and York boats 180 miles up stream from the Grand Rapids to Athabasca Landing prior to the river boats plying the River. The park was built with funds from the Deonian Foundation in 1981.

  39. Anglican ChurchANGLICAN CHURCH - The Anglican diocese of Athabasca was formed in 1874 with the first church being built in 1884. The present church was built in 1988.

  40. TOWN COMMON - The site was acquired by Town Council after the last trains ran through town. Through the efforts of the Town Council of the 1990s, a gazebo, lookout, boardwalk, and commemorative plaques were installed, and the historical information signs were added by Dr. Mike Gismondi and the Heritage Society with the help of Athabasca University. The site is regularly used for festivals and provides a picturesque setting for the people of the community and travelers alike.

  41. UNION HOTEL - The Grand Union Hotel opened its doors in 1914 and has served this area continuously since then. It was in this hotel that truckers from the United States found bed and board during the early years of World War II while traveling to Alaska. There is a restaurant, bar, and rooms to rent, as well as entertainment in the bar on weekends. Since the brick mortar is too soft to remove the white paint, and because the paint is peeled and cracked so much, it is impossible to repaint successfully.

  42. R.C.M.P. CAIRN - Commemorates the 100 years of R.C.M.P. presence between 1874 and 1974-a century of peace and progress in Alberta.

  43. TAWATINAW RIVER, RIVER'S EDGE CAMPSITE and CAIRNS - The campsite is located at the point where the Tawatinaw River flows into the Athabasca River. This park is maintained by the town, who supplies water, power, showers, flush toilets, dumping station, shelter and stove facilities.Just west of the campsite shelter there are two cairns:

    (a) On the site of the Athabasca Landing Immigration Hall, a cairn commemorates the arrival of the first Ukrainian pioneers who settled in the Athabasca area.

    (b) Athabasca Landing- This was erected in 1960 to mark the jumping off place for the vast northland. Here, in 1887, the first steamboat, "Athabasca," was built to ply the river between Mirror Landing (Smith) and the Grand Rapids. Steamboats superceded the canoe, York boat, and scow, and they were themselves replaced a few decades later by the railway.

  44. ROTARY WAY - This walking path was made possible by the Rotary Club of Athabasca. It features a well lit path with view points and seating between downtown and Cornwall Place.

  45. ASPEN HEALTH SERVICES (HEALTH UNIT) - Health services are very complete with a staff of 28, comprising nurses, health inspector, speech pathologist, psychologist, dentistry personnel, home care sevices, clinics and a physiotherapist.

  46. COUNTY OF ATHABASCA ADMINISTRATION OFFICE AND ASPEN SCHOOL DIVISION - Opened in 1987, situated west of Aspen Health Services building. The County serves one of the largest areas in Alberta.

  47. R.C.M.P - This state of the art building was constructed in the winter of 1999 and 11 officers and their staff moved in June, 2000. This is the third site for RCMP barracks in Athabasca- the first was downtown and the second on High School Hill. The RCMP took over the policing of the town in 1970. The first Northwest Mounted Police division was established in Athabasca in 1893. In 1904, after the Boer War, the name was changed to the Royal Northwest Mounted Police.

  48. ATHABASCA HEALTH CARE CENTER (HOSPITAL) - This hospital opened in 1984 after a fire destroyed the previous one. It has an auxiliary wing with a facility for 23 long-term care patients, a rehabilitation center with physiotherapy and occupational therapy, and 30 active care beds. It has a staff of 140 with 6 doctors granted hospital privileges.

  49. WHISPERING HILLS PRIMARY SCHOOL (WHPS) - was built in 1994 with a present enrollment of 423, from kindergarten to grade 3. It has English and French immersion classes and a staff of 42. The grounds contain 4 soccer fields as well as a playground area.

  50. CORNWALL PLACE - is a residential subdivision.

  51. HIGHWAY 55 - comes into the Town from the east and joins Highway 2 in the downtown area. Highway 55 goes east and connects with Highway 63 to Lac La Biche and Fort McMurray. This east west Highway 55 with Highway 2 is part of the Northern Woods and Waters Route between British Columbia and Manitoba.

  52. CALLING LAKE ROAD AND HIGHWAY 813 - An important thoroughfare for the people of Wabasca and Demarais (180 km). The road was pushed through in the early 1990s. En route one can visit Calling Lake, one of the few natural white sand lakes in Alberta (62 km). The road is also an important log truck and natural resource route. Paving is scheduled for completion in 3-4 years.

  53. ATHABASCA GOLF & COUNTRY CLUB - just across the river, with a scenic eighteen-hole public golf course and clubhouse. The last nine holes were completed in 1994. The clubhouse has a full service restaurant all year round.

  54. BLUEBERRY HILL RV PARK - is located just north of the golf course. It has 40 full-service sites and 4 tent sites.

  55. AGRICULTURE SOCIETY BUILDING AND RODEO GROUNDS - Just north of the golf course. This is the site of the annual rodeo on the August long weekend. Throughout the year, many other activities are held at the Agricultural Society Building.

  56. WELCOME SIGN - is situated on the north bank of the river overlooking the Town of Athabasca. Turn west at the Inland Concrete sign, take the left fork in the road to access one of the best views of Athabasca at the welcome sign. The Knights of Columbus placed the cross near the welcome sign in the 1950s where it still sits prominently.

  57. Heritage Society siteTHE RIVER - Athabasca is a Cree word meaning, "Where there are reeds." The river was a great pathway to the North. It flows 765 miles from the Rocky Mountains to Lake Athabasca, and the waters eventually reach the Arctic via the Mackenzie River system. It is one of the longest undammed rivers in North America. The river has a long history: early explorers used the river much as we use the highway today. Boats and scows transported people and goods along the Athabasca and other northern river systems. The Athabasca was an important river in the northern system during the Klondike gold rush. In the early days, the river was a difficult barrier for those living north of it. In 1906 a ferry was installed but could not be used during break-up and freeze-up of the river. A cage was installed in 1934 to carry people during those seasons of the year. This cable car was used to haul pigs and chickens also. The bridge was built in 1952. In June of 1999, a 42 feet x 7 feet portable dock was installed beside the boat launch for public use. It is said that if you drink of the waters of the Athabasca River, you will return to drink again.