1670 - Hudson's Bay Company founded in British North America

1754 - Anthony Henday, trader and explorer, visited the Cypress Hills to urge Blackfoot Tribe to participate in the fur trade, but the Blackfoot refused to hunt for the Hudson Bay Company.

1853 - American Exploring Expedition traveled through much of the Cypress Hills country, trying to establish friendly relations with the Natives.

1859 - John Palliser led an expedition from Edmonton across the plains to Cypress Hills.  He described the hills as "a perfect oasis in the desert."

1869-70 - Hudson Bay Company relinquished its charter to Rupert's Land and the newly established Dominion of Canada assumes sovereignty over the territory renamed North West Territories.

1870's - Metis families occupy and re-occupy a winter village site along the northwest slope.

1871-72 - Isaac Cowie of the Hudson Bay Company carried on a fur trading post east of the Cypress Hills.  The trade of whiskey was forbidden.

1872-74 - Four trading posts were established in the Cypress Hills, these included Farewell's and Solomon's.

1873 - "Cypress Hills Massacre". A wolfing party made up of Americans and Canadians were returning to Fort Benton when their horses were stolen.  They acquired new mounts and set off looking for the thieves.  After spending the night at Farewell's Trading Post, for reasons not entirely clear, they fell into conflict with some Assiniboines who were camped nearby.  One of the traders and thirty natives were killed.  The day after the massacre, Farewell's and Solomon's were burned down.  No convictions were ever made.

1873 - The exaggerated reports of the Cypress Hills Massacre were the last straw in convincing Sir John A. MacDonald to pass a bill establishing the force known as the North West Mounted Police.

1874 - A NWMP detachment left Dufferin, Manitoba and after a demanding trek across the plains, set up Fort Macleod.

1875-83 - 102 men under the command of James Morrow Walsh established Fort Walsh in the west block of the Cypress Hills.  During its operation, the NWMP at Fort Walsh virtually eliminated the whiskey trade, established law and order and helped negotiate the treaties with the Natives.

1876-82 - Sitting Bull and his Teton Sioux (3000 - 5000 people) took refuge at Wood Mountain after fleeing the U.S. Army after the battle of Little Bighorn and the slaughter of General Custer and his men.
     The battle of Little Bighorn was a direct consequence of the discovery of gold in the Black Hills of South Dakota (a Sioux Indian Reserve), whereby the American government tried to force the Sioux from the valuable land.  The battle was a result of the Sioux trying to protect their sacred Black Hills.

1877 - The Blackfoot Confederacy (Peigan, Blood, and the Blackfoot proper) sign Treaty no. 7 at Blackfoot Crossing, surrendering 129 500 km² (50 000 square miles) The remainder Southern Alberta that had not been given up in Treaty no. 6.  However, more than half of the Plains Indians refused to try farming and the reservation life and left the reserves gravitating to the Cypress Hills.  Over 5000 Indians occasionally congregated at Fort Walsh and its village.  This situation prevailed until 1883 when the Indians were persuaded to move onto their reserves and Fort Walsh was abandoned

1877 - Chief Joseph and Nez Perce sought refuge from the U.S. Army in the Cypress Hills, but were captured in Bearspaw Mountains en route.

1878-82 - Fort Walsh serves as headquarters for the NWMP

1879-80 - Bison virtually eliminated from the Canadian Plains.

Middle 1870s - American ranches began to drive their cattle onto the Canadian Plains and permanent white settlement begins for the first time.

1875-79 - Metis hivernants wintered in the Cypress Hills at the head of Gros Ventre Creek near Head of the Mountain.

1879 - Constable Graburn (NWMP) is murdered in the Cypress Hills.  A Native Star Child was arrested and brought to jury but was found not guilty due to lack of evidence.

Early 1880s - Bison disappear from the Cypress Hills.

1880 - Two farms were established in the Cypress Hills to demonstrate farming to natives.  One was 48 kilometres (30 miles) N.E. of Fort Walsh and operated by John Setter.  The other was at Head of the Mountain and operated by J.J. English.  The farms did not last long, one reason being the harsh frost at the end of August.

1883 - Canadian Pacific Railway reached the newly established community of Maple Creek and leads to an influx of farmers, ranchers and homesteaders onto the plains.  Fort Walsh was abandoned and the NWMP established a detachment at Maple Creek.  A number of NWMP outposts remained active in the Cypress Hills.

1883 - L. Sands Lumber Co. was active in the Cypress Hills.

1886 - Major fire burned through most of the Cypress Hills.

1887 - The Mitchell brothers establish the first homestead in the Elkwater Lake area.

1890 - Buffalo come under protection by the Canadian Government.

1890 - The last great plains grizzly was shot in the Cypress Hills.

1894 - A number of forest reserves were established in Canada as concern over the exploitation of natural resources becomes prevalent.

1906 - Creation of the Cypress Hills Forest Reserve comprising 18 sections (18 Square miles).  Created under the Federal Forest Reserve act.

1907 - Happy Jack Hart opens the first coal mine in the area along the North shore of Elkwater Lake.

1890-1925 - Much of the large game became extirpated, and populations of smaller mammals and birds were greatly reduced in the Cypress Hills.

1910 - The first telephone line from Medicine Hat reaches Elkwater Lake area.

1911 - Forest Reserves and Parks Act expanded Cypress Hills Forest Reserve to 492 km² (190 square miles) Of this 80 square miles was in Alberta and was known as the Elkwater Block, which coincides with the present Cypress Hills Provincial Park Alberta).  The first Ranger in the "Elkwater Block" was Mr. Wright.

1913 - Elkwater subdivision was surveyed and construction of roads was completed.

1911-1930 - Cypress Hills Forest Reserve operated under the authority of the Canadian Department of the Interior.

1917 - The Royal NWMP detachment at Eagle Butte closed on March 1.

1917 -  The first store was opened in Elkwater.

1919 - Three stock associations (grazing) established in the Cypress Hills.

1919 - Cottage lot lease fees were $5.00/year.

1920 - The first grazing permits were issued in the Forest Reserve.  Prior to this year the bench area was used only for hay cutting.

1921 - Eleven permits were issued to hunt wolves in the Forest Reserve.

1922 - Three wolves were killed a short distance from the west end of the Forest Reserve.

1924 - The first tourist shelter in Elkwater was built by the Forest Service.  It took 3 years to complete and cost $1,005.42.

1926 - The J.A. Flath family opens a store in Elkwater.  Over the next 30 years the Flath store and dance hall became a landmark of the area.

1930 - Transfer of natural resources control from Dominion Government to Alberta Government and the Alberta Cypress Hills was designated as a provincial forest:

• regulations and policies controlled reforestation, regulated timber harvesting, fire protection, and regulated grazing and haying.
• Little interest in recreational development.

1934 - Another major fire burns the vicinity of the Willow Creek Headwaters.

1938 - Elk re-introduced.  Elkwater Lake Park was established on the shore at Elkwater Lake.

1939 - The Forestry Branch established a camp at Nichol Springs to train men as Forest Rangers.  During the second world war the camp was used on occasion by POWs from the Medicine Hat Camp.

Early 1940s - Cobbles mined from the Cypress Hills for the war effort.

1947 - Establishment of Elkwater Provincial Park.

1947 - The first school in Elkwater burned down, December 5.  Prior to this a cabin was used.

1949 - The second Elkwater school moved from the #34 Air Base in Medicine Hat.

1951 - Establishment of Cypress Hills Provincial Park.

1952 - A dam is constructed on Elkwater Lake for Ducks Unlimited.

1953 - Elkwater Park Golf course opened.

1954 - Park expanded and facilities developed.

1955 - June 15, Elkwater community hall opened.

1955-1956 - Red squirrels introduced. Moose introduced.

Early 1960s - Cypress Hills skiers club established a ski run serviced by a handle tow.

Early 1960's - Spruce Coulee Reservoir and Reesor Lake created.

1962 - Wild turkeys introduced.

1967 - Cypress Hills Visitor Centre built.

1967 - Commercial lumbering operations were terminated; however, domestic grazing was allowed to continue.

1967 - Cypress Hills Skier Association moved to present location.

1967 - Police Point slump occurred along the north escarpment of the Cypress Hills plateau.

1968 - Mr. Bob Townsend hired as Cypress Hills Provincial Park's first naturalist.  Also the first naturalist within Alberta Provincial Parks.

Late 1960s - Fort Walsh National Historic Park was established.

1976 - Elk hunting season becomes established in the park.

Early 1980s - Serious infestation of mountain pine beetles affect the park's lodgepole pine.

Early 1980s - Cypress Hills Provincial Park master plan approved.

1983 - Major upgrading of Elkwater facilities underway.  i.e.. the marina.

1987 - Forest Management Program implemented. Small scale cutting occurs in park for a period of 5 years.

1989 - New daylodge, quad chair and other improvements at "Hidden Valley" ski hill all opened to the public.

1989 - Cypress Hills Interprovincial Park agreement signed, which creates Canada's first Interprovincial Park.  August 25.

1991 - Cypress Hills celebrates it 40th anniversary with various activities, a parade, an evening dance, and even fireworks.

2004 - Cypress Hills Interprovincial Park (Alberta, Saskatchewan, and Fort Walsh) designated a Dark Sky Preserve. Canada's Largest!