The small southern Alberta town of Cardston is best know for its world-class Carriage Museum as well as a beautifully constructed Mormon temple, the first built outside the USA. Another site I’d hoped to see during my visit to the town (but it was closed because of CoVid) was the Courthouse Museum, situated in the historic district.
The courthouse was built from 1905 – 1909 of limestone quarried just a few miles from Cardston. It was the first courthouse built in the new province of Alberta and was also the longest used, closing its doors in 1979. The building was then repurposed as a museum, opening to the public in 1982.
The Old Courthouse is known for its beautifully finished interior where you can see the old courtroom, judge and lawyer chambers and offices. There’s still the original judge’s bench, witness stand, and other artifacts including jail cells. The Courthouse Museum is a Registered Provincial Historic Site.
There’s a modest admission fee and hours are extremely limited so check before you plan your visit.
