Waterton Lakes National Park

Scope and Content: A view of the first oil well in Western Canada plaque. It reads: " The Rocky Mountain Development Company formed in the late 1890's by John Lineham, Allan Patrick and G. K. Leeson commenced drilling operationon this site in 1901 and struck oil at the depth of 1024 feet in 1902. The well failed to m…

History Biographical: The Chinook Country Tourist Association is a not-for-profit organization serving the tourism industry in southern Alberta since 1969. Their mandate is tourism pormotion and development in the area known as Chinook Country. Chinook Country borders British Columbia to the west, Montana to the south, Calgary city limits to the north and Writing-On-Stone Park to the east. Chinook Country Tourist Association has a partnership with the City of Lethbridge operating two Visitor Information Centres in the city which help over 50,000 visitors to Lethbridge annually. The association is an advocate for the tourist industry of southwest Alberta and they believe in tourist development, historical preservation, cultural identity and economic growth. Chinook Tourist Association is governed by a volunteer Board of Directors and membership from the community.

Scope and Content: A view of the first oil well in Western Canada plaque. It reads: " The Rocky Mountain Development Company formed in the late 1890's by John Lineham, Allan Patrick and G. K. Leeson commenced drilling operationon this site in 1901 and struck oil at the depth of 1024 feet in 1902. The well failed to maintain its initiial flow of 300 barrels per day and by 1904 production had dwindled to almost nothing. Further exploration in the Waterton area proved fruitless but the success brief as it was, of this well, encouraged a widespread search which led to the discovery of the Turner Valley Field in 1914." The plaque along with another one in French are mounted on concrete slab at the base of the Oil Well site.