Rutherford House Provincial Historic Site

08/30/2026

Under big Alberta skies, we spotlight the stories, music and spirit that bind us together and makes Alberta unique.

On September 1, 1905, the Alberta Act came into effect and formally established the province of Alberta. To mark this anniversary, Alberta’s government declared September 1 as Alberta Day in perpetuity. Alberta Day is a celebration of the story of Alberta – and an opportunity to tell it again and again, year after year after year.

We look forward to celebrating Alberta Day in 2026 with large events in Calgary and Edmonton on Sunday, August 30 and other municipalities across the province from August 28 to September 1.

A celebration of everything that makes Alberta unique.

08/24/2026

It is no secret that Alexander Rutherford loved books. The books in his personal collection – numbering over 8000 volumes at its peak in 1923! - were ever changing, with new acquisitions being made regularly.

Are you looking to make additions to your own library? Why not come check out Rutherford House’s gift shop to browse some of our new books in stock!

If you're not looking for books, we have vintage toys, fascinators, old-fashioned candy and more -- there is something for everyone!

Image from November 5, 1923 edition of Edmonton Journal curtesy newspapers.com.

08/19/2026

Mrs. Rutherford oversaw the flower beds at Rutherford House, but Mr. Rutherford enjoyed growing vegetables, including the humble potato. Located west of the house and behind the garage, the garden was large enough that several neighbours used sections of it to grow their own vegetables.

Image courtesy of Alberta Tourism and Sport. “Backyard of Rutherford House”, 86-41, 6.4.27 courtesy University of Alberta Archives

08/18/2026

2026 has been the wettest summer on record in Edmonton, with 511 millimeters of rain falling between June 1 and July 26 alone. However, this summer is certainly not the only one in Edmonton’s History marked by significant rainfall.

In late July and early August of 1899, Edmonton was “battered” by heavy rains, including “twenty-four hours of continual rain” on August 16-17 (Edmonton Bulletin). This was compounded by large amounts of melting snow in the Rocky Mountains which caused the North Saskatchewan River to overrun its banks and rise to a height of 12.61 meters (41.4 feet)! The Edmonton News-Plaindealer remarked that flood “might be called beautiful if it were not attended by such a loss of property.” Of greatest concerns to many residents was the Low Level Bridge, then under construction. The bridge was nearly a casualty of the flood but fortunately emerged unscathed as only the bridge’s pilings had been finished.

The 1899 flood remained Edmonton’s most destructive flood until 1915, when the North Saskatchewan River flooded again, hitting a peak height of 13.73 meters (45 feet), the highest on record.

Images courtesy City of Edmonton Archives. Image from August 17, 1899 edition of the Edmonton Bulletin courtesy newspapers.com.

08/17/2026

Rutherford House is currently experiencing an IT issue involving Caller ID Spoofing. Some individuals may receive phone calls that appear to come from Rutherford House, but these calls are not legitimate. Rutherford House staff will always identify themselves when contacting you about a booking or when returning your call.

We are working with our IT team to resolve this issue and appreciate your patience. Thank you for your understanding.

For more information on Caller ID Spoofing, please visit the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission’s website at https://crtc.gc.ca/eng/phone/telemarketing/identit.htm #2.

Telemarketers who make calls to Canadians are required to accurately identify themselves and their client. However, when telemarketers use technology to spoof their Caller ID to display inaccurate, false or misleading information, they are in direct violation of this requirement. As a result, each v...

08/12/2026

While World Photography Day is August 19, World Photography Week runs from August 12 to 26.

World Photography Day is the global celebration of all types of photography, but each year, they also have an optional theme to focus on. The World Photography Day 2026 theme is "HOME".

Do you have a favourite photo of Rutherford House (whether it’s one you’ve taken during a visit or one you’ve seen online)? Share!

We’re also looking for photos of Mr. and Mrs. Rutherford’s previous homes in Edmonton and Ontario. Let us know if you find any!

World Photography Day 2026 Theme

08/09/2026

Happy National Book Lovers Day!

Alexander Rutherford loved to read. At its peak, his personal collection included over 4000 books covering a wide range of subjects from travel literature to poetry to Canadiana – his favourite subject. However, these books were not to just for him to enjoy. He generously made these books available to friends, family, and even students from the University of Alberta.

As Dr. R. C. Wallace recalled, “… he was a lover of books, and had acquired a library of Canadiana which had few peers among private collections. Not only had he the library. He knew his books. Many students sought him to obtain assistance in some phase of Canadian studies. He could give the necessary references, and he could usually supply the necessary material out of his own wealth of books and pamphlets and documents” (New Trail, pg. 76, 1951).

Want to learn more about Rutherford’s love of books or what he sometimes hid in them? Come visit us for a tour!

Images from Wallace, Dr. R. C. “Address at the Opening of the Rutherford Library.” New Trail 9, no. 2 (1951): 76-78 courtesy Peel’s Prairie Provinces. Image of Rutherford’s Library c.1920s courtesy Alberta Tourism and Sport.

08/03/2026

Happy Alberta Heritage Day!

In 1974, the Government of Alberta declared this day as an annual holiday. That year and the next, a multicultural concert was held at Fort Edmonton Park. In 1976, 11 ethno-cultural communities gathered in Hawrelak Park in Edmonton to share their cultures’ cuisine, entertainment, crafts, and more. This was the beginning of the Edmonton Heritage Festival, which is celebrated every year over the August long weekend. Calgary’s Heritage Festival has also celebrated Heritage Day at Heritage Park for over 40 years.

Today, events across the province celebrate Alberta’s history and rich multicultural society and help us recognize the value that diversity and multiculturalism bring to our province.

Come visit us today to learn about the Alexander Rutherford’s Scottish heritage!

Tucked inside the University of Alberta campus is the historic home of Alberta’s first premier, Alexander Cameron Rutherford.

08/02/2026

Summer is in full swing and that means the garden is calling! Why not come explore the gardens of Rutherford House, smell the flowers, and enjoy a game of croquet or quoits in the sun?

Program free with admission.

08/01/2026

Happy Food Day!

Food Day celebrates Canadian cuisine and farmers and encourages everyone to buy Canadian when shopping for groceries and to cook tasty and nutritious foods with Canadian produce.

The Rutherfords got most of their produce and ingredients locally. Mattie had her groceries delivered weekly from Bell’s Meat Market onto the back porch of Rutherford House. Vegetables were either purchased from local farmers or grown in the large vegetable patch Alexander tended to for many years.

They also had a dairy cow for several years but would have relied on the bountiful dairies in Edmonton or Strathcona County for the majority of their dairy needs. Mattie would use all of these local ingredients to cook up many tasty recipes in the kitchen—including beef stew.

Try out the recipe today!