Bow Falls

Bow Falls, prior to the creation of Banff National Park, would once have beed filled with timber berths. The Eau Claire and Bow River Lumber Company set up a mill in Calgary that was supplied by logs coming from Castle Mountain. Forestry and coal mining brought many new people to the Bow Valley and indeed the mining community of Bankhead, at the foot of Cascade Mountain, boasted a domestic electric, water and sewer system years ahead of Banff. However, it was tourism that soon became the dominant industry in Banff as visitors from Europe and eastern North America came west to “take the waters” at the hot springs, view the mountain scenery and relax in luxury at the Banff Springs Hotel.The 1953 Marilyn Monroe film River of No Return featured the falls. Variety Magazine said of the movie: “The competition between scenic splendours of the Banff National Park and entertainment values finds the former finishing slightly ahead on merit.” Poster for River of No Return. Art copyright 20th Century Fox