CHAPS Cochrane Historical Museum

Cochrane Historical & Archival Preservation Society

Beautiful Scenery

Visitors to the CHAPS Museum in Cochrane, Alberta are within an hour’s drive of Banff National Park and the mountain playgrounds west of Calgary that offer year round outdoor activities in a beautiful setting.

Located within The Cochrane Ranche

The Dominion Government incorporated a company in 1881 and it was known as the Cochrane Ranche Company.  (excerpt from Big Hill Country page 155). 

The Museum Building's History

Constructed in 1909 by the Davies family using bricks from the Collin’s Brick Yard. Built to be used as a hospital/nursing home and private residence. Moved to its current site in 2014.

Experience the history of
Canada's West

Through the eyes of its settlers, ranchers and farmers; 

the service and supply businesses, the educators and more.

Cochrane Historical & Archival Preservation Society

Anne heard that the brick house on First Street, known to locals as the ‘Chapman house’, was in jeopardy of being tom down for a small high rise. She approached several people including Lydia and a group of about twelve people met at the CPED (Cochrane Partnership for Economic Development) Boardroom in January of 1999.

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Cochrane and Area Heritage Association

In the late 1990’s we felt that the Perrenoud Ranche House program and other “outside events” were our main projects and we suggested that another historical society should be formed in Cochrane itself to preserve and interpret the history of the rapidly growing town; and therefore the then heritage-minded mayor, Lydia Graham and forward looking individuals formed CHAPS (Cochrane Historical & Archival Preservation Society) in 1999.

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Men not horses pulled fire rig

In the first place the village was too small; you could run around the whole village in about 10 minutes. The rig was pulled by manpower and so was the ladder wagon. In later years a hitch was put on the rig so it could be pulled behind a car or truck.

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Local Pioneer and Rodeo Champion

He has a long list of accomplishments illustrated by the many trophies he has won, He rode in his first rodeos in 1907, and won bronc riding honors at the first Calgary Stampede in 1912.

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