First Oil Well in Western Canada National Historic Site

Although many people associate Alberta oil with the oilsands in the north, the very first producing oil well was in Waterton. In 1901, businessman and politician John Lineham brought his oil company to the area and started drilling along the shores of Cameron Lake. Ten months later, he hit oil. The area became known as “Oil City” for its rigs, bunkhouse, dining hall, and cabins. In the end, there wasn’t as much oil as he’d hoped, but in 1968, the site became Waterton’s first National Historic Site.