Fort Ostell Museum Map Edmonton
Location: 5320-54th Street (at the north end of Centennial Park), Ponoka.
Info: Open from the Victoria Day weekend until the Labour Day weekend, 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. from Tuesday to Friday, and 1:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. on Sundays and holiday Mondays. From September through May, tours are available by appointment from 1:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. Admission is charged. 403-783-5224; www.fortostellmuseum.com.
The Fort Ostell Museum is named for the 1885 fort built near Ponoka. During the Riel Rebellion, the Cree raided the mission and plundered the Hudson’s Bay Company store. Under Captain John Benjamin Ostell’s leadership, 462 men from Calgary came to build a fortification near Battle River. The museum has a model of the fort and the original flag that flew here, as well as pioneer artifacts and memorabilia. The museum’s main focus is its display depicting treatment of the mentally ill in Alberta.
Adjacent to the museum, Centennial Park (on Hwy 2A) is home to a monument called The Legacy, which depicts the world’s largest bucking saddle bronc horse and rider. You will also find a splash park, mini-golf course, playground, trout fishing area, barbecue pits, open-air stage, and washrooms.
