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Drumheller - Profile

The Drumheller Valley was first homesteaded in 1902 by Thomas Greentree. Drumheller was incorporated as a town in 1916 and then as a city in 1930. It takes its name from Samuel Drumheller, one of the first to recognize the potential of the area and its vast coal deposits. Many early explorers had noted the coal and bones in the area as they travelled through the Valley, down the Red Deer River.

At one time, 40 mines were producing coal in the area, but as oil and gas were discovered in abundance in other areas of Alberta, and as diesel engines replaced steam engines, the mines slowly closed and the economy of the Valley changed.

What is now Drumheller once lay on the coastal lowland near a vast inland sea. The warm climate supported lush vegetation and many different lifeforms which lay the foundation for the coal seams and rich fossil/bone sites. Time brought the extinction of the dinosaur, the ice age, the warming trend and the meltwaters which carved out the unusual topography seen today.

The Badlands is a unique landscape which has carved itself out of the prairies. As you look for miles across the flat landscape, you would never suspect that a deep chasm, hidden from view, opens up out of the ground with worn hoodoos and deep canyons. It is not until you are almost upon the valley that it seems to just drop away from your feet into steep verticle trenches. The layers of rock and coal seams are visible and add to the dramatic effect of the Valley.

In 1985, the Royal Tyrrell Museum of Palaeontology opened its doors to thousands of tourists each year. More than 30 life-size dinosaurs are on display; remains of flying reptiles and pre-historic mammals, marine invertebrates and sail-backed amphibians help create a comprehensive picture of the ancient world. There are hands-on displays, an indoor garden with over 100 species of plants, computers, fiber optics, and audio visual presentations to enhance the learning experience for all.

Today, in addition to Tourism, Drumheller's economy is supported by farming and ranching, as well as servicing oil and gas wells. There are over 3,000 producing wells within a 30 mile radius of Drumheller.

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