Algonquin Park, located in Ontario between Georgian Bay and the Ottawa River, was the first Provincial Park in Canada, established in 1893!!  Algonquin became a Provincial Park, not to stop logging but to establish a wildlife sanctuary, and by excluding agriculture, to protect the headwaters of the five major rivers which flow from the park.  These are some of the many rivers in Algonquin: Amable Du Fond River, Barron River, Bonnechere River, Gull River, Madawaska River, Magnetawnan River, Muskoka River, Petawawa River and York River.  Right now Algonquin's Park size is 7,653 square kilometres.  Small groups of Aboriginal people came to hunt here before the 1800s.  After the 1800s pioneer loggers reached Algonquin in search of the great white pine trees.  Tom Thomson and The Group of Seven came by train and stayed at one of Algonquin's several hotels.  Over the years the park has earned whole-hearted devotion and worldwide fame.  Algonquin Provincial Park, is located on the Canadian Shield, northeast of Toronto and northwest of Ottawa.  The terrain is hilly and heavily wooded, with five major rivers and numerous small lakes within it's perimeters.  Algonquin Park was designated a National Historical Site in 1992 because of it's contribution to park management.  What people wore in Algonquin years ago were little clothing made from elk and deer hides.  Decoration is an important thing back then and now, they used shells, stones, seeds, paint, dyes and porcupine needles.  They also wore belts, leggings and moccasins.  Moccasins are type of fancy shoes.  You may also find historical things while just walking in Algonquin Park.  You may also read historical facts about Algonquin Park, in Algonquin Park.  You can read about tribes that have visited this area a long time ago in the park.  May this website remind you, if you are in Algonquin Provincial Park right now you are standing, or sitting, on a Provincial Park that was established 124 years ago.  Thats one old Provincial Park!!