Description of Historic Place

Jasper Park Information Centre National Historic Site of Canada is a picturesque fieldstone residence (now information centre) set within a treed park within the Jasper townsite. Its picturesque profile, with steeply pitched roof and varied gables and porches, and its use of natural materials such as rough fieldstone, log and wood, captures the rustic aesthetic which became symbolic of early architecture within Canada's national parks.

Heritage Value

Jasper Park Information Centre was designated a national historic site of Canada in 1992 because:
- it is constructed in the rustic design tradition,
- it is associated with tourism and development in the National Parks.
The heritage value of Jasper Park Information Centre lies in its expression of the rustic design tradition that came to symbolize Canada's national parks. Designed by Edmonton architect A.M. Calderon, Jasper Park Information Centre was built in 1913-1914 as a landmark. The park's first superintendent, S. Maynard Rogers, considered it an example of the unified architectural theme he envisioned for construction of the new Jasper townsite. Built as a mixed residence and administrative space, it is now used as an information centre for the park.
Sources: Historic Sites and Monuments Board of Canada, Minutes, November 1992; Commemorative Integrity Statement, February 2000.

Character-Defining Elements

Key elements that contribute to the heritage character of the site include:
- the conspicuous siting within the townsite;
- its setting in the open parkland of Athabasca Park with complementary surrounding architecture including the Bank of Commerce, the Jackman Residence and Garage, the Jasper Fire Hall, and the Post Office;
- its massing as a 2 ½ storey rectangle with an irregular plan defined by a main rectangular block flanked by a one-storey wing projecting out from the southeast corner and a two-storey wing surmounted by a pyramidal roof on the northwest corner;
- its rustic interpretation of Arts and Crafts-inspired design with asymmetrical elevations enlivened with picturesque components such as the steeply pitched shingled roof, projecting gabled and shed-roofed dormers, varied multipaned fenestration, bays and porches, projecting eaves with roof brackets;
- its rustic local materials including fieldstone, exposed log and wood shingling;
- original materials and detailing of major interior spaces including the former living room with its large fieldstone fireplace;
- evidence of the original interior layout;
- viewscapes to the mountains surrounding the townsite.