Did You Know the Calgary Stampede Has Historical Walking Tours?

Think you know everything about the Calgary Stampede? You might be surprised.

Since 2021, the Stampede 101 tour has offered guests historical walking tours across the Stampede grounds. The tour is offered by the Calgary Stampede Historical Committee, who promote educational displays, murals and activities related to Stampede’s history.

On the one-hour tour, attendees can expect to learn about the Stampede’s background, historical events and get some unrestricted access to iconic locations in the park. Routes can vary depending on the tour guide, as each guide offers their own insights and insider knowledge.

The Stampede 101 tours happen every day during Stampede and run every hour from 2 p.m. to 5 p.m., taking 20 guests per tour on a first-come, first-served basis. Attendees meet the tour guides outside the Nutrien Western Event Centre at the “Our Land Our Future The Alberta Farm Family” statue.

The historical committee also offers a Chuckwagons 101 tour where you can learn about the history of chuckwagon racing in Calgary.

Here are some of the most interesting facts we learned on the historical tour this year.

One of world’s finest bareback bronc horses was born at the Calgary Stampede

A 1200-pound stallion called Grated Coconut was bred and raised at the Calgary Stampede Ranch for bareback bronc riding, a rodeo event that requires athletes to stay mounted on a bucking horse without reins and a saddle. Widely regarded as one of the world’s best bucking horses, Grated Coconut was a six-time winner of the Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association’s (PRCA) Bareback Horse of the Year. The horse also won Bareback Horse of the Year six times at the Canadian Professional Rodeo Association and was inducted into the PRCA’s hall of fame.

There was a ski jump on the roof of the former GMC Stadium

In 1921, a ski jump was built on the roof of the former GMC Stadium for Calgary’s first Winter Carnival. The 75-foot ramp was a part of a Winter Carnival sporting event held by the Calgary Stampede and the Calgary Ski Club. The week-long carnival was created to compete against the Banff Winter Carnival Festival, which happened a week later. Other than skiing, the carnival hosted sporting events like curling, figure skating and men’s and women’s hockey.

This year celebrates 60 years of the First Nations Princess competition

The First Nations Princess program was created in 1965 as a way to bridge communities and take steps towards reconciliation between the Calgary Stampede and First Nations people of Treaty 7. Every year, a princess is crowned to attend events as an ambassador for the Calgary Stampede, the First Nations people of Treaty 7 and Elbow River Camp. Now celebrating its 60th anniversary, this year’s competition crowned Pacey Strangling Wolf as the 2025 First Nations Princess.

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