Fort De Prairies: The Story of Fort Edmonton

Fort Edmonton was a prairie institution and icon from 1795 to 1915. It was both a physical edifice and a community, not to mention a touchstone of western Canadian commercial history. Its story is rich in drama and colour: Métis fiddlers at midnight, dwarves firing cannons, duelling clergy, never-ending public drumming, secret agents, the raising of the skull-and-crossbones flag, bears quaffing cold drinks—at times it seemed like a circus had taken up residence there. It is also a chronicle of intimidation and murder, battles between whites and First Nations, epidemics and famines, destruction by fire, whiskey traders, horse stealing, mutinies, rebellion and, finally, government neglect and stealthy demolition.

A wealth of both accurate and questionable written descriptions of the fort were produced over the years. A rich body of visual representations was also created—sketches, engravings, book and magazine illustrations, and paintings and photographs relating to different periods. It is from the accumulation of all these documents that the fascinating story of Fort Edmonton is pieced together and told in all its glory.