In 1885, the first 26 square kilometres were set aside in Alberta for the education and enjoyment of the nation. This area was assigned the name Rocky Mountains Park.

Mount Victoria
(Photo source: Parks Canada)

Subsequently, the park area was enlarged until 1930 when it was renamed Banff National Park, an identification it had had informally for several years. Banff, the name of a Scottish town and county, was given by John MacTavish in 1883 to a CPR station a little east of the townsite, later to be laid out in 1886 by George Stewart, the park's first superintendent. Although the story of Banff is closely linked to Lord Strathcona and Lord Mount Stephen, it is uncertain if either influenced its selection as a station name. Banff is still one of our most beautiful national parks. Enjoy the lookouts and picnic sites, explore the walking trails and venture away from the highway where wilderness beckons.

Banff National Park of Canada
(Photo Source: NAIS, 1995)

Source: Derived from brochures of Parks Canada and Rayburn, Alan (1985): "From Terra Nova to Pacific Rim and north to Auyuittuq: the diverse origins of our National Parks names." Canoma, Vol. 11(1), pp. 1-5.

Related Site:
Banff National Park of Canada