Long before the Athabasca Oilsands attracted industrialists in search of fortune, Fort McMurray served as an important transportation hub, creating a link between the rest of the province and the remote settlements further north. Trains would stop here and unload their cargo, which in turn would be loaded into ships and sent north along the Athabasca and Clearwater Rivers. Although long past its heyday, the Heritage Shipyard preserves this cherished piece of the region's history through an intriguing display of historical ships that once plied the waters of the Athabasca and Clearwater Rivers. Alongside these are a variety of artifacts and equipment that pay tribute to Fort McMurray's illustrious maritime history, as well as its role in the exploration of the north.
