The Strathcona Hotel, Edmonton

The Strathcona Hotel is a historic three-storey wood-frame building erected in 1891. With its two-storey annex added in 1903 and a three-storey addition in 1907, the hotel stands as a testament to the early development of the region. The Strathcona Hotel holds historical significance primarily due to its role as a key stopover for immigrants following the arrival of the railway in Edmonton in 1891. As the oldest known wood frame commercial structure in the area, it represents a crucial piece of Edmonton's architectural and social history.

Built by the Calgary and Edmonton Railway Company, the Strathcona Hotel was strategically located across from the railway station at the "end of steel." It was the first hotel in South Edmonton, which by 1899 had become the Town of Strathcona. Serving as a critical stopping point for immigrants looking to establish homesteads or businesses in the Northwest, the hotel was the largest in the region from 1891 to 1904. It quickly became an important meeting place and landmark for the early Strathcona community.

The hotel’s reliance on revenue from its tavern, located in the west annex, led to significant changes during the prohibition era. With the tavern's closure, the hotel was sold to the Presbyterian Church, which repurposed it to house the Westminster Ladies College from 1918 to 1924. Following the end of prohibition, the building resumed its original function as a hotel, continuing to serve the community in its historical capacity.