To see where it all began, head to Fort Calgary Historic Park, circa late 19th century. This 40-acre space encloses the remains of the original mounted police stronghold, which until the 1970s, were buried under the expanding city. Today, you can explore the fort's remains and, with the help of recently uncovered artifacts, learn what life was like for these western Mounties.

While some visitors say they very much enjoyed their time here, others write this attraction off as a tourist trap. According to one TripAdvisor user: "The static displays are boring, confined and hard to get around. The outdoor grounds are bare, all you can see is a burned Fort that they didn't bother to fix. There are no personnel to explain to you anything. Bottom line this is a lame attraction and don't spend your money on it."

Fort Calgary sits just a few blocks east of downtown and is open daily from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Admission is $11 CAD for adults and $7 CAD for children (approximately the same in U.S. dollars). Check out the official website for more information.