Whether you’re interested in learning more about the signing of Treaty 7, Calgary’s boom-and-bust past, exploring your house’s history, who Deerfoot Trail was named after, or what Calgary looked like at the turn of the century, you’ll find the answers in this collection of community heritage and family history resources.
Visit Calgary's Story, presented by Walt and Irene DeBoni, on Level 4 of Central Library.
We recognize that the place we now know as Calgary has a deep history. In the spirit of respect and truth, we honour and acknowledge the traditional territories and oral practices of the People of the Blackfoot Confederacy, the Nakoda people of the Stoney Nations, the Beaver people of the Tsuut’ina Nation, the Métis Nation of Alberta, Region Three, and all people who make their homes in the Treaty 7 territory of Southern Alberta.
Available for six months each year, the Historian in Residence delivers specialized programs about Calgary's rich past, and meets one-on-one with Library patrons to discuss your history-related questions.
Learn how you can connect
A timeline of important milestones in the Calgary Public Library’s history.
Share in our story
Try this virtual escape room with friends and family! You'll learn about Calgary's community history, from the time of the dinosaurs, to the Indigenous people who live here and other notable Calgarians and places in the city.
Historic Calgary Week Escape Room
Historic Calgary maps from Calgary’s Story map collection.
Postcards showing local events and scenes offer a fascinating glimpse of Alberta's history.
Thousands of digitized photographs celebrating the history of Calgary Public Library.
Photographs tracing the redevelopment of the East Village, considered Calgary’s oldest and newest neighbourhood.
Photographs of Calgary’s historic buildings and residences, taken between 1953 and 1977.
Photographs depicting the construction, architecture, and development of Calgary from the late 1990s to present.
Over 500 Calgary residents share the history of their century homes built before 1912.
Over 250 Calgary residents share the history of their century homes built before 1913.
Photographs documenting locations on the City of Calgary’s inventory of Evaluated Historic Sites.
Miss out on a program, or want to rewatch one you loved? Check out the free history programs on our YouTube channel to hear accounts from experts in local history, international archeology, and more.
Community members have submitted their stories — in words, pictures, art, and video — to help future generations understand the COVID-19 global pandemic.
These videos are part of the Newcomer Stories Collection from the Centre for Newcomers, as their 30th Anniversary Legacy Gift to the Community.
Access historical materials from the Glenbow Library and Archives, the Library, and the City of Calgary Archives.
A history of flooding in Calgary, starting in 1883 through to the flood of 2013.
Keynote speeches from the Calgary Remembered conference in 2015.
