Calgary Stampede History

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The discovery of the Leduc oil well in 1946 and major reserves in the Turner Valley saw a period of growth and prosperity. Calgary was then transformed from an agricultural city to an oil and gas capital. The population doubled between 1949 and 1956, and Calgary 's immigrant population not only embraced the Stampede, but encouraged friends and family in their hometowns to do the same.The 1950s represented the golden age of the Calgary Stampede. Attendance records were broken almost yearly in the 50s and overall increased by 200,000 from 1949 to 1959. The 7,500-seat Stampede Corral was completed in 1950 as the largest indoor arena in Western Canada. It housed the Calgary Stampeders hockey team, and musical debuts, such as the Minneapolis Symphony