Jasper House

Jasper House
Jasper House marker
Location	Jasper, Alberta,Alberta,canada
Built	1830
Governing body	Parks Canada
Website	Parks Canada page
National Historic Site of Canada
Designated	1924

Jasper HouseNational Historic Site, inJasper National Park,Alberta,is the site of a trading post on theAthabasca Riverthat functioned in two different locations from 1813 to 1884 as a major staging and supply post for travel through theCanadian Rockies.

The post was originally named Rocky Mountain House, but was renamed to avoid confusion with theRocky Mountain Housetrading post on theNorth Saskatchewan River,becoming "Jasper's House" after the postmaster, Jasper Hawes, who operated the post from 1814 to 1817. The first location is believed to have been at the outlet ofBrûlé Lake,downstream from the present site. The second Jasper House was established at the northern end ofJasper Lakein 1830, primarily serving travellers crossingYellowhead PassorAthabasca Pass.

Jasper House overlook

The site operated until 1853, and was occasionally used until 1858 when it was reopened seasonally byHenry John Moberly,who operated it into the 1860s. The post was officially closed in 1884 after years of inactivity. From 1891 or 1892 to 1894 the house was used by miner Lewis Swift. The building was destroyed in 1909 when its lumber was used to make a raft by surveyors for theGrand Trunk Pacific Railway.Apart from a small cemetery, no significant ruins remain. It was designated a national historic site in 1924, and is marked by a commemorative stone and plaque.

External links

• Parks Canada siteArchived2011-06-06 at theWayback Machine
• Management Plans, National Historic Sites of the Mountain Parks,evaluation of the Information Centre (Section 3.1)