Grain Exchange Building
A point of interest on the Discover Downtown Calgary GPS-guided audio walking tour.
Press play & listen to the tour audio!
Audio Transcript
Take a look to your right across the road. You'll see a tall skinny brown brick building on the corner. Believe it or not, this iconic looking old building was once the tallest skyscraper in Calgary! That’s right, you’ve made it to the Grain Exchange. I mean, it may not qualify as one now, but back when it was built, this thing was huge! It even housed the city’s first passenger elevator back in the day!
In the years leading up to World War One, Alberta saw a rapid increase in the development of the agricultural industry. Calgary quickly became a major hub for the grain industry in Alberta, resulting in economic growth and prosperity. While we still call this building the grain exchange, the grain corporations actually left the premises way back in 1919, because they needed more room. The grain exchange housed a total of 21 different grain companies. It was also where they set the price of grain for the whole province.
They would talk to all the provincial grain companies by telegraph. That’s right, telegraph!
Calgary, AB Discover Calgary
This POI is featured on the Downtown Calgary Audio Walking Tour, part of the Tripvia Tours mobile app available for Android & Apple.
All audio walking tours are self-guided and include fully narrated commentary.
Trivia Challenge
Each POI has a fun multiple choice trivia challenge you can test your skills on.
The trivia questions are separate from the commentary and completely optional.
The app keeps score for you so you can challenge your friends and family.
How it Works
hands free + audio
automatically plays
audio tours play based
on GPS location
fun trivia questions
add to the fun
easy navigation with
live GPS maps
professional tour guides
family friendly
no data used on tour
no signal required
More Tours Nearby
Calgary | AB
Bow River
30 points of interest including Fort Calgary, Prince's Island Park, the Chinese Cultural Centre, Inglewood Bridge, Deane House + more!
Price:
$5.49
Calgary | AB
Discover Downtown Calgary
Over 25 points of interest including the Calgary Tower, Arts Commons, the Calgary Public Building, Palliser Hotel, First Five monument + more!
Price:
$5.49
Drumheller | AB
Ghosts of Drumheller
11 points of interest including Cactus Jack and the Waldorf Hotel, The Johnston House, A Haunted Spa, The World's Largest Dinosaur + more!
Price:
$5.49
Banff | AB
Banff Avenue & Central Park Tour
30 points of interest in spectacular Banff including Cascades of Time Garden, Caretakers Cottage & Mr. Banff!
Price:
$5.49
Calgary | AB
Beltline District
23 points of interest including the Calgary Stampede Grounds, Central Memorial Park & Library, Lougheed Residence, St. Mary's Cathedral + more!
Price:
$5.49
Canmore | AB
Downtown & Bow Valley Trail Tour
26 points of interest in scenic Canmore like the Big Head sculpture, Canmore Hotel, Miner's Union Hall + more!
Price:
$5.49
Trans-Canada Highway 1
between Alberta & Moose Jaw, Saskatchewan
65 points of interest through the idyllic Canadian prairies like the T-Rex Centre, Fort Walsh, Big Muddy Badlands + more!
Price:
$5.49
Trans-Canada Highway 1
between Calgary & Lake Louise
45 points of interest through the incredible Rocky Mountains including Mount Rundle, Banff & Castle Mountain and more!
Price:
$5.49
Trans-Canada Highway 1
between Revelstoke & Lake Louise
44 points of interest through the incredible Rocky Mountains including Glacier Nat'l Park, Mount King, Wapta Lake and more!
Price:
$5.49