About

Pioneers cabin

Historic Charm in the Heart of Edmonton

Opened in 1959, this rustic log cabin features a huge stone fireplace, planed poplar floor, window frames made of spruce, and cedar shingles on the gable roof. It was built by a 76-year-old log craftsman named Hobart Dowler for the Northern Alberta Pioneers and Descendants Association.

Designed and constructed of spruce logs at Dowler’s property on Pigeon Lake, each log was fitted, then numbered before being dismantled and rebuilt on a fieldstone foundation in Edmonton. Dowler used notch and saddle-style connections to form a tight weatherproof fit without the need for chinking or plaster.

Pioneers cabin
Historic Charm in the Heart of Edmonton

Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam, quis nostrud exercitation ullamco laboris nisi ut aliquip ex ea commodo consequat. Duis aute irure dolor in reprehenderit in voluptate velit esse cillum dolore eu fugiat nulla pariatur.

The Old Timers Cabin was built in the 1950s using log construction to evoke idealized images of pioneers in Alberta.

The Old Timers Cabin was built in the 1950s using log construction to evoke idealized images of pioneers in Alberta.

The Cabin was situated in the river valley on Scona Hill, on a site that had been leveled to provide fill for the Low-Level Bridge. The cabin is a relatively modern example of log construction. The style was consciously chosen for its status as a pioneer icon, reflecting the Northern Alberta Pioneers and Descendants Association’s connection with the past. The association dates back to 1894 when it was founded by Edmonton’s earliest prominent businessmen, such as James Gibbons (1894 – 1895), Donald Ross Sr. (1896), and John McDougall (1897), and Harrison Young (1898).

In 2020, the name was changed from Old Timers Cabin to Pioneers Cabin, but we will always cherish the rich history of our log cabin no matter the name.

The Cabin's Story

Timeline Highlights
Timeline icon shape
1894
Cabin Founded
Edmonton Old Timers Association

The historic cabin was built by a 76-year-old log craftsman named Hobart Dowler for NAPDA for the Edmonton Old Timers Association, one of Edmonton's oldest chartered clubs. The association was established by a group of 36 pioneers and early prominent businessmen who either trekked across the prairies from the east or worked their way up the Saskatchewan River by boat.

Line icon
1925
Renamed
Northern Alberta Pioneers

The association's name changed to Northern Alberta Pioneers and Old Timers Association in 1925.

Line icon
1959
Renamed
Northern Alberta Pioneers

The association's name changed to Northern Alberta Pioneers and Old Timers Association in 1925.

Line icon
1983
A New Location
Old Timers Cabin

The association's name changed once again to Northern Alberta Pioneers & Descendants Association in 1983.

Line icon
2018
Major Renovations
Inside & Out

The cabin has been renovated inside and out by a government grant to maintain the historic charm and durability, as well as bring the interior up-to-date with modern facilitation for events, including a retreat room, lower-level events space, and exterior restoration.

Line icon
2020
Rebranding
Pioneers Cabin

In 2020, the cabin's was changed from Old Timers Cabin to Pioneers Cabin, but we will always cherish the rich history of our log cabin no matter the name.

Line icon

PIONEERS CABIN

With its rustic charm and picturesque scenes of the River Valley, Muttart Conservatory Pyramids, and downtown skyline, the Pioneers Cabin is a unique Edmonton events venue and one of the best locations in the city to hold one-of-a-kind wedding ceremonies and receptions, corporate events, and social celebrations.

Father's Day Lunch
Mother's Day Victorian Tea Party
Spring Fling

If you would like to inquire about the Pioneers Cabin for your event or book a tour to see what the facility has to offer, please get in touch with us through the Contact Us page.