Description of Historic Place

Located on a terrace, two kilometers north of Egypt Lakes and looking westward toward the Pharaoh Peaks, the Egypt Lakes Warden Cabin is a small, gable-roofed, one-room log structure. The off-centered main entrance door is tucked away under the gabled porch roof. The designation is confined to the footprint of the building.

Heritage Value

The Egypt Lakes Warden Cabin is a Recognized Federal Heritage Building because of its historical associations, and its architectural and environmental value.

Historical Value
The Egypt Lakes Warden Cabin is a useful illustration of the transportation and communications network within park boundaries. The cabin is one of a network of cabins built to house wardens patrolling the park on horseback in the summer or on snowshoes or skis in winter. It was situated to minimize the travel time to other cabins.

Architectural Value
The Egypt Lakes Warden Cabin is a very good example of utilitarian design that is rustic in character. Its value also resides in its simple design and the textures of its locally gathered construction materials. At the time of its construction it was felt to set a new standard to which all other warden cabins should be built.

Environmental Value
Set in a sub-alpine meadow, the Egypt Lakes Warden Cabin looks westward toward the Pharaoh Peaks. The Cabin is a landmark for travelers in this heavily used backcountry area. The historic relationship of the cabin to its surrounding landscape has remained unchanged and the cabin is compatible with the present character of its mountain park setting.

Source:
Egypt Lake Warden Cabin, Banff National Park, Banff, Alberta, Heritage Character Statement, 93-107.

Character-Defining Elements

The character defining elements of Egypt Lakes Warden Cabin should be respected.

Its utilitarian design with rustic character, quality craftsmanship and materials such as:
- its simple massing of a gable-roofed cabin with a sheltered porch constituting the front third of the structure;
- its use of wood construction with round logs laid horizontally with saddle-notched corners and rough rubble-stone walls;
- its three-log, tie-beam support system evident in the front porch;
- its multi-pane horizontal sliding wood windows, wooden shutters, doors and interior board finishes;
- its paint scheme of dark brown and white and the green-tinted wood shingle roof, which is a traditional feature of warden cabins.

The manner in which Egypt Lakes Warden Cabin is compatible with the present character of its mountain park setting in Banff National Park.