Sam Centre
Photo: self-madeTransferred from en.wikipedia — CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
The Sam Centre offers interactive exhibits and experiences that immerse visitors in the rich history and culture of the Calgary Stampede.
Planning your visit
The Calgary Stampede calls itself the greatest outdoor show on earth, and for ten days each July the city gives itself over to rodeo, chuckwagon racing, midway rides and pancake breakfasts, with a scale and civic commitment that surprises visitors.
The Sam Centre, on the Stampede grounds, covers that history: the founding by the American trick roper Guy Weadick in 1912, the evolution of the events, the chuckwagon tradition, and the Stampede's role in constructing Calgary's identity as a western city — an identity partly authentic, given the ranching country around it, and partly deliberately manufactured.
Interactive exhibits let visitors try rodeo timing and mechanics.
The Stampede's treatment of animals has drawn sustained criticism, particularly over chuckwagon horse deaths, and visitors may weigh that.
Indigenous participation, through the Elbow River Camp, is part of the event's history and is covered.
Bookable options are museum tickets. Current availability is listed below.
Before you book
Where is Sam Centre?
Sam Centre is in Calgary, Canada. The map on this page marks its exact location.
Do I need to book Sam Centre in advance?
Tickets can be bought on the door at quiet times, but booking ahead fixes the date and avoids the queue at busy ones. Live availability is shown on this page.
