BUILTHERITAGE
Stewarded by the City of Edmonton Archives
  • By Time
  • By Place
  • By Story
⌘K
BUILTHERITAGE
Stewarded by the City of Edmonton Archives

Discover the structures, places, and stories that shaped Edmonton's built environment.

Resources

NewsFAQsLinks

Contact

City of Edmonton Archivesarchives@edmonton.ca780-496-8711

We acknowledge that the land on which Edmonton is built is Treaty Six Territory. We thank the diverse Indigenous Peoples whose footsteps have marked this territory for centuries, such as nêhiyaw (Cree), Dené, Anishinaabe (Saulteaux), Nakota Isga (Nakota Sioux), and Niitsitapi (Blackfoot) peoples. We also acknowledge this as the Métis homeland and the home of one of the largest communities of Inuit south of the 60th parallel. It is a welcoming place for all peoples who come from around the world to share Edmonton as a home. It is important that we not only recognize our shared histories, but also each other's contributions to establishing the built heritage of Edmonton and Area.

© 2026 City of Edmonton Archives
Privacy Policy•Terms of Use•Accessibility

The Structures

Buildings come in different sizes and shapes, and can be made from a variety of materials. Buildings are where we live, work and play. People have been erecting structures in the Edmonton area for thousands of years, starting with the indigenous people who have long called this area home. The earliest building remaining in Edmonton is the Peter Erasmus House, built in the 1860s and now located at Fort Edmonton Park.

Over the past 150 years residential, commercial and industrial structures have been erected, added to, torn down and rebuilt. As time passed methods and styles went in and out of fashion, and the primary function of some neighbourhoods changed, while new neighbourhoods were developed. The result is a many-layered built landscape composed of hundreds of thousands of buildings representing multiple architectural styles. This website provides the opportunity to explore the city's built heritage by profiling the history and architecture of well-known and lesser-known buildings in Edmonton.

In this collection

Structures
185Structures

Showing 1–48 of 185 structures

Safeway, 2011

97 Street Safeway

Commercial · Built 1929

In 1929, a new cash-and-carry grocery chain from the western United States arrived in Edmonton, bringing with it this Spanish Revival storefront.

Agency Building, 1912

Agency Building

Commercial · Built 1912 · Demolished

This long, narrow building owed its shape to the high cost of land during Edmonton's first real estate boom.

Soldier in front of Alberta College South Veteran's Hospital, circa 1917.

Alberta College South Veteran's Hospital

Educational

Exterior view of the Alberta Hotel, taken circa 1907.

Alberta Hotel

Residential · Built 1903 · Demolished

The Alberta Hotel provided the last word in luxury in the early years of the twentieth century.

Exterior view of the Alberta Legislature, 1913. Side elevation photograph from the City of Edmonton Archives.

Alberta Legislature Building

Governmental · Built 1913

Among the most iconic buildings in Edmonton is the Legislature, which overlooks the river valley and is the seat of power for the provincial government.

Interior view of the Alberta Legislature Chamber showcasing architectural details, taken in 1948.

Alberta Legislature Chamber

Governmental

Interior view of the Allen Theatre, showing seating and stage area from 1919.

Allen Theatre

Commercial

Exterior view of Argyll Substation in Edmonton.

Argyll Substation (500)

Industrial and Manufacturing · Built 1957

This electrical substation was built at a time of expansion in the city's residential and industrial areas, and expansion with city-owned utilities.

Exterior view of Arlington Apartments, captured in a historical photograph.

Arlington Apartments

Residential · Built 1909 · Demolished

Edmonton's first luxury apartment building.

Armstrong Block, 1920

Armstrong Block

Commercial · Built 1912

The Armstrong Block is the only remaining heritage building specifically constructed for mixed use in Edmonton's downtown.

Exterior view of the Ash Residence, circa 1920, showcasing its architecture.

Ash Residence

Residential · Built 1912

The Ash Residence is a 1912 Foursquare home with Craftsman influences.

Exterior view of Athabasca Hall, 1921, showcasing the front elevation. City of Edmonton Archives EA-10-940.

Athabasca, Assiniboia and Pembina Halls

Educational

These three Collegiate Gothic buildings are an important fixture on the University of Alberta campus.

Photo of Balfour Manor, showcasing the exterior views of this historic building.

Balfour Manor

Residential · Built 1912

This early Moderne building was originally a fire hall before an extensive renovation in the 1930s.

Bard Residence, 1916

Bard Residence

Residential · Built 1912

This grand home was built by Indian Agent, entrepreneur and real estate speculator Delmar Bard and lived in by his family for three generations - over 80 years.

Becker House, 2013, front elevation. Photo courtesy of Ann Hall.

Becker Residence

Residential · Built 1913

The unusual combination ofclinker brick and Foursquare design makes this home unique in Edmonton.

Exterior view of Beth Shalom Synagogue, captured in 2008. Photo by James Dow. Courtesy of the City of Edmonton Sustainable Development.

Beth Shalom Synagogue

Religious · Built 1951

Beth Shalom Synogogue on Jasper Avenue is a prominentexample of International style architecture in Edmonton.

Big House at Fort Edmonton Park, 2007, front elevation. Photo by Lawrence Herzog. Courtesy of COE Sustainable Development.

Big House, Fort Edmonton

Residential

The reconstructedBig House, originally built at Fort Edmontonin the 1840s, is now located at Fort Edmonton Park.

Birks Building, 2007, front view from Jasper Avenue. Photo by Lawrence Herzog. Courtesy of COE Sustainable Development.

Birks Building

Commercial · Built 1929

With its curved front facade and location on a busy downtown corner, the Birks Building is a prominent example of early Modern classicism.

Bowker Building, ca. 1980

Bowker Building

Governmental · Built 1931

The Bowker Building was the last Edmonton office buildings fashioned in the Beaux-Arts style of architecture.

Photograph of Brodeur House taken in 1950, showing the exterior of the structure.

Brodeur House

Residential · Built 1950

This moderne dream home was built in 1950.

Exterior view of Buttercup Farmhouse surrounded by greenery.

Buttercup Farmhouse

Residential · Built 1912

This beautiful example of a local Arts and Crafts home was built in 1912 as part of the designed community of Highlands developed by the Magrath-Holgate Company.

Canada Permanent Building, front elevation

Canada Permanent Building

Commercial · Built 1910

This small jewel of a building holds its own nestled among downtown high-rises.

Exterior view of C.N. Station during the Royal Visit in 1939

Canadian National Railway Station-1928

Commercial · Built 1928 · Demolished

C.N.R. architect John Schofield situated this prominent railway station to be admired from Jasper Avenue, four blocks away.

Canadian Northern Railway Station, circa 1913

Canadian Northern Railway Station-1905

Commercial · Built 1905 · Demolished

This elegant Prairie railway station heralded the beginning of Edmonton's connection to the world by rail in 1905.

Exterior view of the entrance to the Allen Theatre in 1919.

Capitol Theatre

Social and Recreational · Built 1918 · Demolished

The Capitol Theatre was Edmonton's first dedicated movie house.

Cecil Scott Burgess Residence, 2009, front elevation. City of Edmonton Archives EA-792-73.

Cecil Burgess Residence

Residential · Built 1912

The home ofarchitect and University of Alberta professor Cecil Burgess is a well-preserved example of Craftsman style.

Cecil Scott Burgess Residence, 2009, front elevation. City of Edmonton Archives EA-792-73.

Cecil Scott Burgess Residence

Residential

Chown Residence

Chown Residence

Residential · Built 1912

The Chown Residence was one of several Foursquares built in The Highlands before WWI.

The Anglican Parish of Christ Church, 2013, exterior view of church and hall. Photo courtesy of Ann Hall.

Christ Church

Religious · Built 1921

This quaint Tudor style churchhas served the Anglican community since the 1920s.

The Anglican Parish of Christ Church, 2013, exterior view of rectory. Photo courtesy of Ann Hall.

Christ Church Rectory

Religious

Exterior view of the Churchill Wire Centre from the front, captured in 2007.

Churchill Wire Centre

Communications · Built 1947

The Churchill Wire Centre is located in the heart of downtown and was built to house equipment for Edmonton Telephones.

Exterior view of the City Telephones Building, constructed in 1950, City of Edmonton Archives.

City Telephones Building

Miscellaneous

Historic view of Civic Block from around 1914.

Civic Block

Governmental · Built 1912 · Demolished

The "temporary" Civic Block served as Edmonton's City Hall longer than any other building to date.

Exterior view of C.N. Station during the Royal Visit in 1939

C.N. Station

Transportation

Belgravia, Community League Hall, c. 1965

Community League Hall

Governmental

Exterior view of the Court House, Edmonton - 1912

Court House

Governmental · Built 1912 · Demolished

Edmonton's first proper Court House was built in 1912 and demolished in the 1970s.

Photograph of Crawford Block, an important historical building in Edmonton.

Crawford Block

Commercial · Built 1912

This straightforward Edwardian retail and apartment building had only three owners for the first 90 years or more of its existence.

Home of J. St. Clair Blackett, ca. 1910

Cristall House

Residential · Built 1912 · Demolished

Constructed in 1912, the Cristall House was home to Edmonton's first Jewish resident, Abraham Cristall.

C. W. Cross Residence, an exterior view of the house.

C. W. Cross Residence

Residential · Built 1912 · Demolished

The C. W. Cross Residence was a 1912 Tudor Revival home located in Glenora.

Dame Eliza Chenier Residence

Dame Eliza Chenier Residence

Residential · Built 1910

"Along with the other heritage buildings in the area, this duplex helps to create a sense of the streetscape in a pre- First World War Edmonton neighbourhood." ~ Edmonton Historical Board

Dean-Kuperus Residence, 2013, front elevation. Photo courtesy of Ann Hall.

Dean-kuperus Residence

Residential · Built 1947

The Dean-Kuperus Residence is an example of a fairly commonInternational style house found throughout Edmonton.

Exterior view of Downtown Post Office building.

Downtown Post Office

Governmental · Built 1910 · Demolished

The Post Office was Edmonton's tallest building when completed in 1910. It was demolished in 1972.

Photograph of Dr. Cameron Residence, front elevation, 2015

Dr. Cameron Residence

Residential

Dr. Allan Barton Cameron ran his practice from this residence, one of the earliest homes remaining in Calder.

Exterior view of Dr. Eardley Allin Residence, a historic building in Edmonton.

Dr. Eardley Allin Residence

Residential · Built 1914 · Demolished

This Tudor Revival home was built in 1914 and was the home of Dr. Eardley Allin.

Exterior view of the Duggan Residence, taken in 1908.

Duggan Residence

Residential · Built 1907

"The J.J. Duggan residence embodies the kind of architecture favoured by Strathcona's upper middle class residents during the early 1900s." ~ David Murray, architect.

Exterior view of the Edmonton Art Gallery taken in 1968, showcasing its architectural features.

Edmonton Art Gallery

Social and Recreational · Built 1969

The Edmonton Art Gallery (now the Art Gallery of Alberta) was originally a textbook example of Brutalist architecturebefore its recent extensive renovation.

Exterior view of the Edmonton Club, 1912.

Edmonton Club

Social and Recreational · Built 1906 · Demolished

Edmonton's oldest men's club met in this three-storey brick building, once located on College Avenue and McDougall Street overlooking the river valley.

Exterior view of Edmonton Cold Storage Company, Ltd.

Edmonton Cold Storage Company, Ltd.

Commercial · Built 1912 · Demolished

This four-storey brick cold-storage building is a relatively unadorned example of a building from what collectively became Edmonton's early warehouse district.

  • 1
  • 2
  • More pages
  • Next