Sites That Reflect Winnipeg’s History

A gathering place for 6,000 years, The Forks was the hub of the western fur trade as early settlement began. Today, it’s the city’s top tourist attraction and includes a nine-acre interpretive park and adjoins The Forks Historic Port and Assiniboine Riverwalk. Explore the outdoor winter attractions, including curling, ice skating and snowboarding at the Arctic Glacier Winter Park plus snowshoeing and cross-country skiing on the river trail.

Hours: Open daily
Location: Off Main St at Waterfront Dr, 204‑942‑6302 or 1‑888‑942‑6302

Measuring 60 metres across and 2.5 metres deep, this stone circle is geometrically aligned to the sunrise and sunset of the fall and spring equinoxes, and summer and winter solstices, as well as to true north. Named after the Ojibwe word meaning “heart of the community,” the site plays host to many Aboriginal cultural celebrations.  The nearby healing rock images were created and interpreted by local Indigenous artist Natalie Rostad.

Hours: Open daily
Location: The Forks, beside the Children’s Museum.

Standing near the fork of the Red and Assiniboine rivers in St. Boniface, this historical site is a replica of the fort built by the North West Company in 1810. The summer program features costumed interpreters re-enacting the life of the fur trade in 1815. In February, the site is host to Festival du Voyageur, the city’s largest French Canadian cultural celebration.

Location:Whittier Park, Hébert St and St. Joseph St, 204‑233‑9470

Tour the grand building where the province’s decision-makers meet. From its grand staircase flanked by stone bison to its Tyndall stone foundation, the Legislature pays tribute to the land of Manitoba. Secret images and Masonic symbols are also said to be hidden in its architecture.

Hours: July and Aug, tours available on an hourly basis from 9 am-4 pm.
Admission: Free.
Location: Broadway and Osborne St, 204-945‑3636,

Turn back time at this log house, built in 1854, which served as the prairie’s first post office. The Ross House is one of the last remaining Red River frame architecture buildings in Winnipeg. Inside find artifacts and written displays outlining the history of the building.

Hours: Wed-Sun 10 am-4 pm (until Aug 25/24).
Admission: Free.
Location: Joe Zuken Heritage Park, 140 Meade St N, 204-943‑3958

The dramatic façade is all that is left of the original St. Boniface Cathedral-Basilica, which was destroyed by fire in 1968. Its cemetery includes the graves of many important Manitoba figures, including Louis Riel.

Hours: Open daily
Location: 190  ave de la Cathédrale, 204-233‑7304

Built in 1911, the building was designed by the same architects behind New York’s Grand Central Station. Wander inside to take in its impressive dome and terrazzo flooring. Today this is still the bustling Winnipeg station for VIA Rail. Also home to the Winnipeg Railway Museum.

Hours: Open daily
Location: 123  Main St.

Central to some of Winnipeg’s most memorable events of the fur trade era, all that remains of this Hudson’s Bay Company fort is the gate itself. A newly constructed park features historical plaques explaining the fort’s significance and the Manitoba Liquor and Lotteries Heritage Wall, which plays an impressive LED light show illustrating the spot’s history.

Location: Broadway and Main St, across from The Forks