Following his travels and explorations in Antilles, the United States and South America (and even once riding an alligator), naturalist and conservationist Charles Waterton (1782-1865) retired to his estate in West Yorkshire, where he established what is said to be the world’s first nature reserve. Waterton never set foot in Canada. Fellow naturalist Thomas Blakiston (1832-1891), a lieutenant in the Royal Artillery, admired Waterton and branded his name indelibly in southern Alberta. As part of the Palliser expedition that explored Western Canada in the 1850’s, Blakiston gave his hero’s name to a chain of lakes in what is now Waterton Lakes National Park. The post office that opened in 1915 is called Waterton Park, the townsite is known simply as Waterton. Blakiston’s name survives through Blakiston Creek, Blakiston Falls and Mount Blakiston, all within the national park. Some large memorial walls were erected starting in 1996 ‘to honour deceased persons who have had a special connection to this national park.
Highway 5, Waterton Park
Nearest Populated Centre: Waterton,
Province: Alberta
Latitude, Longitude
49.07195, -113.88799
Map Location
Surname | Given Name | Born | Died | Age | Photo(s) | Cemetery | Obituary | Narrative | R Code |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|