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 On the Peace River south of Fairview stand the oldest buildings in northern Alberta, these being the restored remains of Fort Dunvegan and the adjacent St. Charles Mission. In one of the most scenic spots of the region, Dunvegan was established as a trading post for the North West Company in 1805. It soon became a major centre for fur trade activity along the Peace River.
In the 1870s new buildings were erected to facilitate expanded activity. This included a new residence for the chief factor. Completed in 1879, this structure now stands in restored condition just west of the bridge. A new St. Charles Mission and Rectory were built to the east of Fort Dunvegan during the mid-1880s. These two buildings have now been restored on their original site at the east side of the bridge, and are a major feature of the Dunvegan Historic Site. To the west of the bridge, beyond the market garden, was St. Savior's Anglican Mission. Although there are no structural remains of this mission, a large number of maple trees, introduced by Reverend Alfred Garrioch, have survived and flourish throughout the site.
In 1965 the Fort Dunvegan Historical Society was formed to maintain a campground, set up a museum and restore the remaining historic buildings. Over the years, the Historical Society has contributed over $150,000 and countless hours of work towards the restoration and maintenance of Dunvegan. Finally, in 1982, the site was purchased by the provincial
government from the Marusiak family, who operates the market gardens. By this time Dunvegan had become a Provincial Historic Site, so restoration work was continued by the Historic Sites Service.
In 1992 Dunvegan became a Provincial Park. The site was then developed as a 'barrier-free' campground. In 1994 the modern Dunvegan Visitor Centre opened. Exhibit space and an auditorium improved historical interpretation of the site. There are also tour guides available to help explain details of Historic Dunvegan to visitors. Today, Dunvegan is northern Alberta's major historical tourist attraction, while the market gardens stock grocery stores throughout the region.
Historic Dunvegan is administered jointly by the Alberta Departments of Community Development and Environmental Protection.
Provincial Park:
Open year round. May-Sept: . Sept-May: .
Historic Dunvegan:
Open May 15-June 30: daily 10-6. July 1-Labour Day: Mon-Fri 10-6, Sat-Sun 10-9. Admission is charged.. Within Alberta, dial to be connected toll free. 26 km south of Fairview on Highway 2; 543 km (337 miles) NW of Edmonton.
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