Stephansson House Provincial Historic Site

06/01/2026

It’s Alberta Seniors’ Week!

During the first full week of June, Albertans can show appreciation for Alberta’s seniors and all that they contribute to Alberta. Seniors can visit us during operational hours June 3 to 7 and receive free admission.

In 2026, Alberta proudly celebrates the 40th anniversary of Seniors’ Week. Inspired by the vision of the late Alice Modin, Seniors’ Week has been recognized since 1986 to celebrate the contributions seniors make to enhance the quality of life in Alberta. Forty years ago, Modin began a campaign to start a seniors’ day in Strathcona County that helped pave the way for this annual event.

05/31/2026

Happy birthday, Gestur!

On this day in 1893, Gestur Cecil Stephansson was born.

He was named after writer Gestur Pálsson (an important influence on, and supporter of, Stephan’s poetry) and the attending midwife, Sesslja -- Cecilia -- Bardal.

This portrait is of him around the age of 13. Have you seen any other photos of Gestur? If so, let us know!

“Gestur”, c. 1906 courtesy Provincial Archives of Alberta, PAA PH75.28.04.

05/25/2026

Last month Stephansson House Facility Supervisor Edward van Vliet sat down with Katrín Níelsdóttir to discuss Stephan G’s library. You can find it in the latest edition of the Logberg-Heimskringla newspaper, which they have kindly allowed us to share. Enjoy!

05/19/2026

During the months of May and June -- Wednesdays through Fridays -- Stephansson House often hosts school programs. Due to the size of the museum, we are unable to conduct guided tours while schools are on site. Depending on how many programs are booked that day, school groups might be onsite as early as 10:00am, but they are usually finished by 2:00pm.

Please call us at 403.728.3929 or email us at [email protected] beforehand to ensure we can give you the best possible experience during your visit.

Stephansson House Provincial Historic Site was the homestead of one of the Western world's greatest poets, Stephan G. Stephansson.

05/19/2026

50 years ago, Stephansson House received official Historic Resource Designation.

Historic Resource Designation is a form of legal protection that helps to recognize and protect historic places. The Historical Resources Act empowers the Government of Alberta to designate a site as a Provincial Historic Resource.

To qualify, historic places must normally be associated with a significant aspect of Alberta’s past and retain the physical site features necessary to convey this significance.

Find out more about what makes Stephansson House significant below!

05/18/2026

Happy Victoria Day!

In 1927 Victoria Day in the Red Deer County area was a somewhat sedate affair as people were more focussed on the impending Diamond Jubilee of Confederation.

Even so, there were still picnics, dances and sports competitions across the region.

All images courtesy newspapers.com.

05/16/2026

It’s opening weekend!

Stephansson House opens tomorrow for the 2026 season!

Why not celebrate the long weekend by visiting Stephansson House and joining us for some kaffi and smákökur (coffee and cookies)?

05/10/2026

Gleðilegan mæðradag!

Until more recently, Mother’s Day as we know it in North America was not celebrated in Iceland. Instead, Icelanders had their own tradition: Konudagur, or “Woman’s Day,” which is celebrated in February to honour the role of women in society and their contributions to community.

That said, discussions about “Mother’s Day” as it had been celebrated in North America since 1908 began to appear in the mid-1920s in Icelandic-Canadian newspapers.

Images from 19. Juni, Bjarmi, Heimskringla, Logberg and Sameiningin courtesy timarit.is.

05/09/2026

Today is National Train Day.

By the time Stephan and Helga moved to Markerville, travelling by train had become somewhat common. Both of them took numerous trips by train to visit friends and relatives or to attend meetings and events.

However, before leaving Iceland they had never seen a train. Upon finally arriving in Granton (after stops in Lerwick and Aberdeen) “the group travelled by train to Glasgow. Astonished by this experience, both father and son described this great wonder: ‘That was the first time I saw a steam engine,’ Guðmundur wrote. ‘It is no easy task to describe this gigantic monster which kills everything that gets in its way. It glistens beautifully, all made of iron with a funnel poking up from it for the steam. Behind the funnel was another pipe, much narrower, with a string attached. When the string is pulled, the pipe lets out a terrifying hoot that can be heard miles away. Anyone who has not heard it before is scared out of his wits. This hoot means “look out!” and if the warning is not heeded, the creature that does not obey is death’s prey.’”

You can read more of Guðmundur’s account below.

The following travel account was recorded by Gumundur Stefnsson, Stephan G. Stephansson's father. Gumundur Stefnsson emigrated late in the summer of 1873 accompanied by his wife Gubjrg Hannesdttir and their children, Stefn (nearly twenty years old) and Sigurlaug Einara, (seven years younger). Stefn....

05/07/2026

Til hamingju með afmælið Árni og Stephany!

On this day in 1917, Árni Baldvin Bardal would marry Stephaný Guðbjörg Stephansson in her family home. They would live only a few miles west on their own farm.

Photo of “Stephansson House, Markerville, Alberta” (A5007) courtesy of Provincial Archives of Alberta A5007.