Drumheller

Drumheller, Alta, incorporated as a town in 1998, population 8029 (2011c), 7932 (2006c). The Town of Drumheller is located on the RED DEER RIVER in southern Alberta, 138 km northeast of Calgary. The Red Deer River valley is internationally known for the abundance of fossils, particularly of DINOSAURS.

History
Shortly after ranchers first settled there (1897), the townsite was bought by Colonel Samuel Drumheller (1910). He started COAL MINING operations (at sites around the townsite) in 1911, and the first post office was named after him. The railway arrived in 1912, and in quick succession Drumheller became a village (1913) and a town (1916).

Drumheller was incorporated as a city in 1930 and boomed until after World War II when coal lost its importance as an energy source. In 1998, Drumheller amalgamated with the Municipal District of Badlands and was reverted back to town status.

Present Day
Today, coal mining has all but disappeared, replaced by natural gas and oil exploration and development. The town is the service centre for the primarily agriculturally based local economy. A federal penitentiary and a regional health complex also provide employment. Tourists are attracted to Drumheller by the striking landscape of the BADLANDS along the Red Deer River, the Drumheller Dinosaur and Fossil Museum, the Homestead Antique Museum and the ROYAL TYRRELL MUSEUM OF PALAEONTOLOGY. The museum exhibits include more than 200 dinosaur skeletons (the largest display of complete dinosaur skeletons in the world) and the skulls and parts of many other animals.

Author DAVID EVANS

Links to Other Sites
Drumheller
The official website of Drumheller, AB.

Joseph Tyrrell
Watch the Heritage Minute about pioneer geologist Joseph Tyrrell and his discovery of the massive dinosaur fossil beds in Alberta. From the Historica-Dominion Institute. See also related online learning resources.

What's so bad about badlands?
About the geoscape of southern Saskatchewan, badlands, and dinosaurs. From Natural Resources Canada.

Travel Alberta
This nicely illustrated “Travel Alberta” website is a complete guide to planning an Alberta vacation. Offers a searchable directory of accommodations, recreational and cultural opportunities, and much more.

When Coal Was King
The multimedia website “When Coal was King: Coal Mining in Western Canada” explores the history of Alberta’s coal mining industry. Check out the glossary and educational activities. From the Alberta Online Encyclopedia.

Atlas Coal Mine National Historic Site
Learn about coal mining in the Drumheller Valley at the website for the Atlas Coal Mine National Historic Site.

AlbertaFirst.com
Profiles of AlbertaFirst member communities provide important business, economic and lifestyle information to compliment the statistical information available for all communities.

Huge dinosaur fossil found near Drumheller, Alberta
A CBC News story about the discovery of a skeleton of a massive triceratops east of Drumheller, Alta.