Smoky Lake History Archive

Main Themes:

Native History
Methodist Missions
The Fur Trade
Settlement

Smoky Lake
Neighboring Villages

Ukrainian Culture
People's Stories
Schools

World War II

Historic Sites Today:

Welcome!! Here you'll find information on the history of an area of Alberta, Canada along the North Saskatchewan River. Archaeological remains suggest that this area was lived in by the native people of Canada as early as 10,000 years ago. Little is known about times so long ago, but a lot of records have been kept of the more recent activities.

    In 1862 a Methodist mission was started on the banks of the North Saskatchewan River and a small settlement began to form around it. The Hudson's Bay Company built a fur trade post there, and the settlement continued to grow.

     In 1918 the railway bypassed Victoria Settlement and came through Smoky Lake, a town just north of the Settlement. Over the next few years the settlement disappeared and people moved north to be part of Smoky Lake.

    Today, Smoky Lake is still a beautiful place to visit and much of its history has been preserved. The land around it is scattered with picturesque old farm-houses, some dating back to the turn of the century. The CN station has been transformed into an art gallery and tourist information booth, and an old school has become the Smoky Lake Museum.

    The Hudson's Bay Clerk's Quarters remains standing today and has become a the central part of a Provincial Historic Site, together with a 1906 Methodist church. The Victoria Trail Home Guard has done work preserving other locations along the historic trail. Right now, the Home Guard is celebrating the recent Federal Historic Site Designation that the trail has received.  Find out what the designation means.