Cranbrook's historic and heritage sites revolve largely around the railway, without which the town wouldn't exist. Admire the restoration of a luxury Trans-Canada Limited railcar, explore the heritage homes of the Baker Hill district, and learn about the history behind the St Eugene Resort.
Cranbrook Museum of Rail Travel
The Museum of Rail Travel, on Van Horne St South, is not just about Cranbrook's railway history. Rather, Trains Deluxe celebrates the golden age of rail travel in both Canada and the United States.
In 1929, the Canadian Pacific Railway ordered 12 complete sets of luxurious railcars for use on its Trans-Canada Limited service. A single set of these "hotels on wheels" consisted of a dining car, an elegant parlour car, and sumptuous sleeping cars - the very pinnacle of luxury travel. Sadly, the service was canceled with the onset of the Great Depression. Many of the cars were summarily stripped of their finery and reassigned to more humble railway duties.
The main attraction at the museum is an entire Trans-Canada Limited train. The restoration of these railcars involved many thousands of hours spent removing layers of paint to reveal original inlaid mahogany and black walnut panels. Original light fixtures and CPR artifacts have been reinstalled to bring the interiors back to their former elegance.
Knowledgeable guides take small groups on a tour through the railcar collection, displayed on the museum's three parallel tracks. Don't miss the impressive Royal Alexandra Hall, reconstructed using components salvaged from Winnipeg's now demolished CPR Hotel.
Don't be put off by the drab exteriors of the trains. Operating with limited funds, the museum has made the pragmatic decision to focus on the interiors of the cars until such time as a fully enclosed structure can be built to protect the collection from the elements.
Baker Hill
The historic Baker Hill district contains many elegant heritage homes, including one built for Colonel James Baker that dates back to 1889 - one of the oldest houses in southeastern BC Other fine homes in the neighborhood were built for lumber barons in the early part of the 20th Century. The self-guided Cranbrook Heritage Tour, which includes a total of 42 sites, is available from the Visitor Centre on Cranbrook Street North.
The St Eugene Mission
In 1910, the Government of Canada funded the construction of the St Eugene Mission - a residential school for Aboriginal children. In direct contrast with its unfortunate history, this huge Spanish Colonial building has been re-imagined into the luxurious 4 1/2 star St Eugene Resort, complete with golf course and casino. St Eugene is about 10 minutes north of Cranbrook, off Hwy 95A.