Rutherford House Provincial Historic Site

Tomorrow is National Indigenous Peoples Day, a time to recognize, celebrate, and learn from the rich living cultures of Indigenous Peoples across Canada.

It is a day to recognize and celebrate the cultures and contributions of Indigenous people in Canada. This date, the summer solstice, also marks the end of spring and honours the first day of summer. Celebrate National Indigenous Peoples Day by participating in festivals, powwows or community events near you!

Celebrate National Indigenous Peoples Day | June 2026 | Explore Edmonton There are so many ways to celebrate National Indigenous People's Day in Edmonton! See what is happening in communities in the area.

The Canada Strong program is back, starting today! Provincial museums and heritage sites operated by the Government of Alberta, including Rutherford House, are participating in “Canada Strong” this summer.

From June 19, 2026 – September 7, 2026, children and youth 17 and under receive free general admission. Young adults aged 18 to 24 receive a 50% discount off regular admission when they show valid photo I.D. at time of entry.

Still wondering what we’re making with our rhubarb?

Here’s another clue.

Any guesses?

Kitchen gardens were a staple of many early Edmonton homes. Compact yet productive, these gardens supplied families with seasonal fruits, fresh produce, and flavourful herbs to complement what could be purchased in stores.

Among the first plants ready for harvest in late spring on the prairies was rhubarb. From pies and pastries to jams — and even soups! — rhubarb found its way into a wide range of recipes.

This week, staff at Rutherford House are trying a Victorian era rhubarb recipe. Can you guess what they’re making? We’ll reveal the answer next week!

Summer will soon be here, and that means gardening season is in full swing. Most of us may head to our local greenhouse for plants for our gardens but where did Edmontonians get their flowers a century ago?

Prior to the introduction of commercial greenhouses, many Edmontonians, including Mrs. Mattie Rutherford, grew many of their own plants from seeds or transplanted perennials they brought to Edmonton. Seeds could be easily purchased from stores or obtained through harvesting from flowers in the late summer and fall. However, on Thanksgiving Day 1906 Walter Ramsay opened Edmonton’s first greenhouse, providing residents with a new avenue for purchasing flowers including new varieties shipped from across Canada.

While Ramsay’s Greenhouses is no longer in business, we continue the Rutherford family tradition of gardening.

Image of “Walter Ramsay Greenhouses”, 1914, EA-262-1, courtesy City of Edmonton Archives

They’re back!

Join us for a few of our past most popular programs as well as NEW Weekends at Rutherford House.

Free with regular admission.

Eighty-five years ago today, Alexander Rutherford passed away at the age of 84.

His impact on the formation and establishment of Alberta as a province is varied, from building an educational foundation with over a thousand schools and the establishment of a provincial university to an expansive network railways and telephones to connect people across the province and move resources.

His association with, and support of, multiple community groups made him a well known and much sought out individual as well as a much beloved figure in Edmonton -- as evidenced by the tributes that poured out after his passing, and the hundreds who attended his funeral.

Image from June 12, 1941 edition of the Edmonton Journal courtesy newspapers.com.

On June 10, 1895, the Rutherford family arrived in South Edmonton. According to Douglas Babcock the Rutherfords had left their home in Kemptville, Ontario on June 1 to make the trek west.

The Ottawa Journal, however, indicates that the family left on June 6.

Would you like to help us solve this mystery?

Images from the June 6, 1895 edition of the Ottawa Journal and the June 13, 1895 edition of the South Edmonton News courtesy Newspapers com.

Happy anniversary, Helen and Cecil!

One hundred and ten years ago, Cecil Rutherford and Helen Reid Martin were married at her family home.

Marriage Index GR2013.0664, 1916, Ledger No. 1 (Record No. 1600) courtesy Provincial Archives of Alberta.

June is Bike Month, and today is World Bicycle Day/ International Day of the Bicycle!

While Edmonton has not always had bike lanes criss-crossing the city, bicycles have been a favorite mode of transportation and leisure for many people in the city for over a century. This photograph from 1919 shows a handful of bike enthusiasts lining up to take part in a race hosted by the Edmonton Journal. These races went on for many years, and clearly drew quite a crowd! In honour of over 100 years of biking tradition in Edmonton, why not hop on your bicycle, go for a spin, and stop by for a tour!

"Edmonton Journal bicycle race, Edmonton, Alberta.", 1919, (CU156907) by McDermid Studio. Courtesy of Glenbow Library and Archives, Glenbow Archives Collection, Libraries and Cultural Resources Digital Collections, University of Calgary.