Cave and Basin National Historic Site

The birthplace of Canada's national park system. In 1883, three railway workers discovered the hot springs in this cave near the Bow River and attempted to stake a private claim. The federal government intervened and established the Banff Hot Springs Reserve in 1885 — which became Banff National Park in 1887. The cave and the outdoor basin where the springs emerge are now a national historic site with a museum explaining the park's origins.

The original bathing pools are no longer open for swimming (they were closed in 1990 to protect the hot spring snail, a unique species found only here), but the cave and the outdoor basin can be explored on self-guided trails. The museum has good exhibits on the history of the national parks and the wildlife of the Rockies. Located about 2 km southwest of town on Cave Avenue. Admission is $4.25.

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A story
The hot springs at Cave and Basin were discovered in November 1883 by three CPR workers — Tom McCardell, William McCardell, and Frank McCabe — who lowered themselves into the cave on a makeshift rope to find a warm underground pool. They attempted to stake a private claim to the springs and operate them commercially, but the federal government refused and eventually expropriated the site in 1885, creating Canada's first national reserve. The dispute between the workers and the government dragged on for years; none of the three men ever received significant compensation for their find.

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