Alberta and British Columbia 1910

When Otto Honigmann was planning his trip to Canada in the first decade of the 20th century, the Rocky Mountains were still largely unknown in the German-speaking world as a destination for travel and mountaineering. The western Canadian provinces of Alberta and British Columbia had only been opened up for tourism through the construction of the Canadian Pacific Railway in the late 1880s. In 1910, during his six-month journey, Honigmann was able to enjoy the conveniences of the Canadian Pacific Railway's transport and hotel system and take advantage of their support for mountaineering and hunting. The area around Banff and the Rocky Mountain Park are still the most popular tourist destinations today. In contrast, the regions that Otto Honigmann visited on his hunting expeditions remain less frequented. He was not a professional photographer, but he was a sensitive observer. His photographs and diary entries bring a past era to life in a wonderful way.