Chronological History of the Calgary Stampede - The First 100 Years

1884 Calgary was incorporated as a town and was home to 500 people. The Calgary and District Agricultural Society was formed.

1886 The first fair was produced by the Calgary and District Agricultural Society on October 19 and 20.

1888 The Agricultural Society purchased 94 acres of land from the Dominion of Canada and shortly thereafter began to improve the site with a race track, cattle sheds and an exhibition building. This land on the Elbow River has continued to be the site of Calgary's exhibition since then.

1889 The Exhibition lands were christened Victoria Park.

1908 Calgary was the host for the Dominion Exhibition. Government funds supported the construction of an exhibits building, the roofed grandstand, the livestock exhibits building and several barns.

1911 Parimutuel betting (a system in which all bets of a particular type are placed together in a pool) was introduced at the horse races. A new livestock and horse show arena was built.

1912 Guy Weadick produced the first €Frontier Days and Cowboy Championship Contest€ soon to be known as the Calgary Stampede. The Big Four - Pat Burns, George Lane, A.E Cross and A.J. Maclean - provided financial backing.

1919 Guy Weadick returned to Calgary to produce the second Stampede, called the Victory Stampede in honour of the end of World War I. The original Agriculture Building with the Victoria Pavilion was completed.

1923 The €Calgary Stampede€ merged with the €Calgary Industrial Exhibition€ to form the €Calgary Exhibition & Stampede.€ Guy Weadick moved to Calgary to produce an annual Stampede at the same time as the Exhibition. He invented chuckwagon racing, downtown attractions and the other community activities that brand the Stampede today.

1950 The Stampede Corral was completed.

1954 Fifteen acres between the east boundary of Stampede Park and the Elbow River were added to the lease. Stampede Park's total land base was then 114 acres.

1959 The Big Four Building officially opened and included exhibition space and a curling rink.

1965 The Calgary Exhibition & Stampede considered several expansion options, including Lindsay Park, Lincoln Park and Victoria Park but remained in its Victoria Park location.

1968 City Council approved Stampede Park expansion north to 14 Avenue S.E. Under the agreement, no houses could be removed without city approval and not until alternative accommodation was found for the residents. Community studies and consultation began.

1974 A new larger grandstand with a 5/8th mile racetrack and infield was built. The Indian Village was relocated, Suntree Park was completed and the Kinsmen Elbow River Park initiated.

1977 An independent study reflected the rising power of the tourist and entertainment industry and recommended large versatile facilities based on a grand, themed western motif, renewing interest in Stampede Park expansion.

1980 Olympic organizers recognized that a major arena was a prerequisite for the city's bid for the 1988 Winter Olympic Games; the Coliseum (Saddledome) was built.

1981 The original Roundup Centre was completed.

1983 The Saddledome was officially opened.
1984 City Council adopted the Victoria Park East Area Redevelopment Plan (ARP).