The history of Jasper in short
People have lived in and travelled through this land for far longer than the fur trade. Fur traders built a supply post in 1813, the area became a forest park in 1907, and the town got its present name in 1913. A national park followed under the National Parks Act in 1930. The railway station that stands today dates from 1925. In July 2024 a wildfire reached the town, and rebuilding is still under way.
This page keeps the dates apart from the present. The wildfire of 2024 is an event with its own section below, and the rebuilding figures are a snapshot from autumn 2026. If you want to see the place today, start with the Jasper tours or the page about the town.
The first peoples of the Jasper area
Indigenous presence does not begin with European trade.
The area lies under Treaty 6 and Treaty 8 and in the traditional territories of the Anishinabe, Aseniwuche Winewak, Dene-zaa, Nêhiyawak, Secwépemc, Stoney Nakoda, Mountain Métis and Métis. These are different nations and communities, so it is wrong to speak of one single First Nation of Jasper. The Stoney Nakoda First Nation, for example, has a link to Spirit Island on Maligne Lake.
After the park was created, First Nations and Métis people were forcibly moved out and shut out from using the land and its resources. The ties of Indigenous peoples to this land are long, and they continue today.
Our pick: a walk through town
A guided walk through the centre; ask which stops cover Jasper's history.
Hand-picked tours, booked through Viator. Prices are indicative starting prices in US dollars (as of October 2026). Tap a tour for live availability and the current price in your currency.
Jasper tours and day trips
Boat trips, glacier outings, wildlife tours and more, with live prices and availability.
From the fur trade to a national park
The main dates in order.
| Year | What happened |
|---|---|
| 1813 | The North West Company builds the Rocky Mountain Portage House at Brûlé Lake as a supply depot |
| 1815 | Jasper Haws takes over, and the post becomes known as Jasper's House |
| 1907 | Jasper Forest Park is founded |
| 1913 | The town of Fitzhugh is renamed Jasper |
| 1925 | The surviving Canadian National railway station is built |
| 1930 | The National Parks Act gives the park its official status |
| 1984 | The Canadian Rocky Mountain Parks become a World Heritage Site |
| 2001 | The Municipality of Jasper is founded on 20 July |
The name comes from Jasper Haws, who took over the post. The station of 1925 at 607 Connaught Drive joined the sites of earlier stations. It received heritage recognition on 4 June 1992. The 1925 date does not mean the railway reached Jasper only then. For the story of the station today, see trains to Jasper.
World Heritage and dark skies
The Canadian Rocky Mountain Parks became a World Heritage Site in 1984, with a boundary change in 1990. The group includes Jasper, Banff, Kootenay and Yoho, along with Mount Robson, Mount Assiniboine and Hamber.
Jasper is also a Dark-Sky Preserve, named by the Royal Astronomical Society of Canada on 26 March 2011. A dark sky does not promise northern lights on any night.
The 2024 wildfire
The event and the state of rebuilding are two different things.
What happened in July 2024
Lightning started several fires on the evening of 22 July 2024, and the fire reached the town on 24 July 2024. About 33,000 hectares burned in the Athabasca valley. That is the burned area, not the size of the national park.
Losses in the town
About 30% of the town's structures were destroyed, 358 in the first survey, and an estimated 806 housing units were lost.
Rebuilding in autumn 2026
Of 374 lots to rebuild, 73 were ready to occupy, 98 under construction, 50 had a building permit, 46 were in the application stage and 107 had no application.
Where to stay →Ground cleanup
Of 375 lots needing cleanup, 371 are confirmed safe for health, 4 reports are under review, and no debris remains on any lot.
In the park, Valley of the Five Lakes, Wabasso Lake and the Curator Trail reopened in summer 2026. The Maligne Canyon and Cavell Road stay closed in 2026. Read the canyon page and the hiking page for the details.
Read more about Jasper
Places and plans connected to this story.
History of Jasper: frequently asked questions
Where does the name Jasper come from?
From Jasper Haws, who took over the fur trade post in 1815. The post became known as Jasper's House. The town of Fitzhugh was renamed Jasper in 1913.
When did the Jasper wildfire happen?
Lightning started several fires on the evening of 22 July 2024, and the fire reached the town on 24 July 2024. About 30% of the town's structures were destroyed.
Is Jasper rebuilt?
Not yet. In autumn 2026, 73 of 374 lots were ready to occupy and 98 were under construction.
Who lived here before the park?
Indigenous peoples have long ties to the land, among them the Stoney Nakoda, Secwépemc, Nêhiyawak and Métis. The area lies under Treaty 6 and Treaty 8.
Is Jasper a World Heritage Site?
Yes, as part of the Canadian Rocky Mountain Parks, inscribed in 1984. A boundary change followed in 1990.