The History of Chateau Lake Louise
In the summer, over 10,000 people come from all over to visit Alberta's treasure Lake Louise. The massive lake is 2.4 kilometres long, 1,500 meters wide, and up to 90 metres deep. The historic chateau found on the shores of the immaculate lake has a significant history, dating back to first Canadian transcontinental railroad line. People from all over the word go visit Chateau Louise, even those in Alberta leave their apartments in Fort McMurray, Calgary or Edmonton to visit the popular establishment. Here is a timeline that depicts Chateau Louise's historic events.
1884: The Birth of Lake Louise:
In the late 1800s, Thomas Wilson who was a railroad horse wrangler was informed of a beautiful lake located deep into the high mountain valley above the planned Canadian Pacific railway line. Thomson was so mesmerized by the outstanding beauty of the lake that he named it Emerald Lake for its stunning emerald colour. In 1884, Lake Emerald switched names to Lake Louise to honour Princess Louise, the wife of the Governor General of Canada at the time.
1880: Lake Louise's First Cabin:
The lake massively promoted the Canadian Pacific railway. Because it was so attractive to mountaineers, the Canadian Pacific railway built a cabin on the shores of the lake in 1880 which the railway's general manager envisioned to serve as a hotel for alpinists and the adventurous.
1893-1896: A Series of Unfortunate Events:
In 1893, Chateau Louise burned to the ground leaving Canadian Pacific Railway with the task of building a second chalet. The second chalet was bigger, with a more sophisticated design. On a visit to the second chalet, a man by the name of Philip Abbott died on an expedition to the summit of Mount Leroy. Following the tragic accident, the railway hired two professional alpine guides to lead guests up through the mountains.
1913: Chateau Louise is Famous:
Chateau Louise was visited by a number of impressive icons during that era. Some of the people who visited include: Alfred Hitchcock, Marilyn Monroe, King Edward VIII, Queen Elizabeth II, Douglas Fairbanks. All of the celebrity attention the cabin was receiving made Lake Louise globally renowned as Canada's premier summer destination. As the popularity mounted, Canadian Pacific decided to wooden wings to the chalet, and they also completed the painter wing. About a decade later, there was another fire which destroyed everything except for the painter wing, which makes it the oldest part of the chalet that can be seen today.
1982: Chateau Louise a Year-Round Destination:
Before 1982, Chateau Louise was only visited in the summer, but the chateau managed to establish itself as a popular year-round destination.
2004: The Highest Wing is Built:
The increased revenues and increase in tourist resulted in the expansion of Chateau Louise. In 2004, Mount Temple Wing was set to be built on a $65-million budget. The new wing was built as high as the tallest peak in Banff National Park and doubled the size of the chateau to 36,000 square feet. The wing has a vast cathedral-like interior, which is what inspired its name.
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Articles focused on providing useful information on lifestyle, employment, industry and accommodations in Fort McMurray. For information on furnished apartments for rent in Fort McMurray, please visit us at: http://www.riverparkglen.ca/
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