# @cityofcalgary on Instagram

- **Type:** Image
- **Original URL:** https://www.instagram.com/p/CDRT6lFHNbb
- **Gondola URL:** https://gondola.cc/posts/15733889-cityofcalgary-instagram
- **Thumbnail:** https://img.gondola.cc/tr:w-,h-,fo-auto/thumbnails/297b7e69e2.jpg
- **Posted:** 2020-07-30T15:00:46.000+00:00
- **Account Owner:** City of Calgary (@cityofcalgary) — https://gondola.cc/cityofcalgary

## Caption

Ever wonder where the idea for the Calgary Stampede happened? It could have been right here. It is reputed that the idea was conceived in Bar-U Ranch owner George Lane’s room at the Alberta Hotel, our oldest remaining hotel building. Swipe to see what it looked like in 1891 👉⁣
⁣
For most of the building's history as a hotel, it claimed the status as being the best in the city. The hotel was the preferred lodging and gathering place for well-to-do ranchers, businessmen, local personalities and remittance men. Apart from the superior accommodations, its other drawing cards included an excellent dining room, a favored barbershop, a pool and billiards room, a reading room and a renowned beverage room, famous for its 125'-long bar - supposedly the longest between Winnipeg and Vancouver.⁣
⁣
Some of the well-known cattlemen and personalities that regularly patronized the Alberta Hotel included George Lane, owner of the Bar-U Ranch; Fred Stimson, manager of the Bar-U; brewer A.E. Cross; rancher William Roper Hull; and meatpacking king, Pat Burns. R.B. Bennett, an important Calgary attorney and later Prime Minister of Canada (1930-35) lived in the hotel for 22 years and dined at the same table daily.⁣
⁣
The Alberta Hotel has long been an important landmark in downtown Calgary due to its commanding and central location, long-time presence, distinctive architecture and its integral role in Calgary's history and social life. Historically, Calgarians knew the building as a favorite meeting location, calling it the “Alberta corner.” This is where women would stand to meet friends downtown, and where business men would wait to meet associates for appointments. In the early part of the twentieth century it was said that if you were trying to find someone, that by waiting at the Alberta, they would eventually show up or pass by.⁣
⁣
The Alberta Hotel is designated as a Municipal Historic Resource.⁣
⁣
📷: 1891 image courtesy Provincial Archives of Alberta.⁣
⁣
Learn more about its history by visiting the link in our bio. #ThrowbackThursday #yycHeritage

## Stats

- **Views:** 0
- **Likes:** 1,445
- **Shares:** 0
- **Comments:** 19

## Tags

yycheritage, throwbackthursday

---
Copyright (c) Gondola