Head Smashed In Buffalo Jump

Because of our detours along the route up and the closing time of the museum, we decided to head directly to Head-Smashed-In instead of to the RV park. They had a nice parking lot for RVs which worked really nice.

The museum itself depicts the life and culture of aboriginal (Native American to us Staters) natives who lived in the plains and relied heavily upon the Buffalo herds. A 5 story museum that takes you through time to modern day, it felt like a Smithsonian. It is a UNESCO site, claiming a title that is shared with the Taj Majal, Egyptian Pyramids and other natural wonders. I am not saying it was like the pyramids or anything, but it was really pretty cool.

I especially enjoyed the architecture of the building, which for the most part was underground with layers peaking through. We walked a few hundred yards across the top ridge to the point where the buffalo were run off the ridge and then meandered through the museum. Papa took Grady's hand and walked him through the museum, reading him several of the signs. Grady was mostly impressed with the animals, who were stuffed mid-pounce or fight. Luckily, papa's interests leaned the same way. I led Colby around and we talked all about how the Indians set up lanes to chase the buffalo, how they dressed up like calves and wolves to create a stampede and how the entire village created human "chutes" by holding up hides to funnel the animals through and to their eventual death. It was fascinating, if a bit macabre.

We are now settled comfortably into our RV park at Daisy Mae campground in Fort McLeod. It is by far my favorite park so far (despite the fact that there is no sewer - dump only and we have to pay a loonie for a shower). But the park is green, flat and lush with just the perfect amount of trees. The boys spent an hour or so riding their bikes in a circle around the park. Thankfully there are few other campers here so we can pretty much see everything in the park.

Tomorrow our plan is to visit the old Fort McLeod, which is the original home of the Canadian Mounties. We will then head north to Drumheller to dig for dinos.

We are having a great time and the sunshine this afternoon certainly helped our mood. I am wearing sandals for the first time this trip and am looking forward to sitting outside this evening and perhaps reading a book.