Bird's Eye View Park - Grande Cache, Alberta
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T0SHEA
N 53° 53.149 W 119° 06.568
11U E 361356 N 5972879
The Bird's Eye View Park is part of the Tourism Interpretive Centre in Grande Cache. The Grande Cache, interpretive signs and rest area are located at 9701 AB Hwy. 40.
Waymark Code: WM1168H
Location: Alberta, Canada
Date Posted: 08/23/2019
Views: 2
Our town is called Grande Cache, which is of course French. The story on how we got that name is very interesting. Ignace Giasson was an Iroquois employee of the Hudson Bay Company who was stationed at St. Mary's Fort near Peace River. He was originally from the Montreal area, so he spoke French.
Giasson was active in the Grande Cache area during the years 1818 to 1821. He would travel into what is now British Columbia and bring back large quantities of furs. On one of these trips, he was heavily laden with pelts and the snow was very deep, so he constructed a winter fur cache on the banks of the Sulphur River. Eventually, the whole area became known as Grande Cache.
Transcribed from sign
Tourism Interpretive Centre in Grande Cache was officially opened on October 5, 1996. There are at this location a free museum, wildlife displays, Esson Gale Art Gallery and Bighorn Gallery Gift Shop. The Tourism Interpretive Centre offers local and regional tourist information, maps and brochures.
The Grande Cache Tourism & Interpretive Centre showcases the history of the area through exhibits and displays featuring ice age artifacts, dinosaur tracks, Aboriginal heritage and fur trading.
Nearby is the Bird’s Eye View Park that officially opened August 28, 2010. The park features interpretive trails and picnic areas with three gazebos. You can see a replica of a "cache” along with other historic buildings that include the Muskeg Ranger Station built in 1942, Adams Creek Lookout built in 1940 and other buildings. The dedication plaque is attached to small rock next to the large wooden sign recognizing donors and volunteers. It is located just behind the "grande cache".
To Commemorate
the Official Opening of
BIRD'S EYE VIEW
INTERPRETIVE PARK
by the
Town of Grande Cache
August 28, 2010
A Legacy Gift
In recognition of the 12 years Weyerhaeuser Company Limited operated in the community of Grande Cache (1992-2004), a donation of $50,000 was made to support the development of this project.
Weyerhaeuser hopes many travelers enjoy their visit and appreciate the history, beauty, and natural surroundings of the town as well as the outstanding hospitality offered by the citizens of Grande Cache.
