Cayley Museum in Pictures and Stories

Cayley, Alberta, has a rich history deeply intertwined with the cattle industry, particularly due to its strategic location for livestock shipping. The area became a major cattle shipping point after the Calgary and Edmonton Railway was built in 1892, making Cayley a central hub for numerous large ranches in southern Alberta. The town’s stockyards were once among the largest in the world, handling massive shipments of cattle and horses. 

Cayley’s Early Ranching Era: The 1880s

The 1880sThe 1880s brought significant change to the foothills of southern Alberta, as the cattle industry began to take firm root on the open range. The fertile grasslands surrounding what would later become Cayley offered ideal conditions for grazing, and the expansion of the Calgary and Edmonton Railway created new opportunities for ranching operations to access eastern markets.

Several large ranches developed in the region during this period, including the well-known Bar U Ranch, located southwest of Cayley near the Highwood River. Established in 1882, the Bar U became one of the most prominent ranching operations in western Canada. It attracted many skilled ranch hands and cowboys, some of whom went on to achieve lasting prominence.

One of the most celebrated ranchers of this era was John Ware, an African-American cowboy originally from the United States who became legendary for his skill with horses, his strength, and his leadership on the range. Ware worked on several ranches in southern Alberta before establishing his own ranching operation. His reputation for honesty and hard work made him a respected figure in the foothills, and his story remains a cornerstone of Alberta’s ranching heritage.

The train station at Cayley, situated on the Calgary and Edmonton line, quickly became a critical hub for shipping cattle. From here, livestock could be transported efficiently to larger markets, tying the small prairie settlement into the broader ranching economy of the Canadian West.

Local lore also links the area to Harry Alonzo Longabaugh, better known as the Sundance Kid. Before becoming infamous as an outlaw in the United States, Longabaugh is believed to have worked as a ranch hand at the Bar U Ranch in the 1880s. Stories suggest that during this time, he may have participated in moving cattle to the Cayley railhead. While the historical evidence is fragmentary, such connections illustrate the mix of hardworking ranchers and larger-than-life characters who shaped the early ranching years.

The cattle drives to Cayley would have been memorable events in the 1880s. Long lines of cattle moved across the grasslands under the watch of experienced cowboys, ending their journey at the railway siding. The arrival of trains transformed the economy of the foothills, ensuring that even small communities like Cayley played a role in the larger story of ranching on the Canadian prairies.

This early ranching activity laid the foundation for Cayley’s place in Alberta’s history. The combination of open range, railway access, and the presence of both legendary cowboys like John Ware and colorful figures such as the Sundance Kid made the 1880s a defining era for the region.

• Early Ranching Era: The 1880s saw the rise of ranching in the foothills, with several large operations developing in the area. 
• Strategic Location: Cayley’s location, being the highest point between Calgary and Fort Macleod, and its proximity to numerous ranches, made it an ideal location for a railway stockyard. 
• Calgary and Edmonton Railway: The arrival of the railway in 1892 significantly impacted the cattle industry in the region, with Cayley becoming a major shipping point. 
• World-Class Stockyards: The Cayley stockyards were renowned for their size and efficiency, handling vast numbers of cattle and horses, including breeding stock. 
• Growth of the Village: The village of Cayley grew alongside the stockyards, providing services to the surrounding ranching community. 
• Shift to Trucking: By the late 1940s, trucks began to replace trains for livestock transport, leading to the eventual decline of the Cayley stockyards. 
• End of an Era: The last major rail shipment of cattle from Cayley occurred in 1948, and the stockyards were dismantled in 1965. 
• Ongoing Legacy: Despite the change in transportation methods, Cayley continues to be a part of Alberta’s strong cattle industry.