You will surely know that you are in Moose Jaw when you spot Mac the Moose at the city’s entrance.  Like Mac, the town is definitely a horse of a different color. 

Despite what the name might imply, Moose Jaw (the fourth largest city in Canada’s Saskatchewan Province) is not a frozen desolate tundra, with biting wind blowing across the skeleton graveyard of long dead moose.   Moose Jaw is actually a thriving and pleasant city that attracts hordes of tourists every year with it interesting lineup of sights and attractions.

Moose Jaw, with a population of a little more than 34,000, claims a number of origins to its unique name.  However, one of the most accepted is that the name Moose Jaw originates from the Cree word moosegaw, which means “warm breezes.” Despite its bizarre name, Moose jaw is definitely a prime spot for RVers and travelers looking for adventure and entertainment on Saskatchewan plains.

From humble beginnings, the railway came to town in 1882, which quickly transformed the area from a small trading post into an up and coming prairie town.  By 1903 Moose Jaw was ready for frame and was incorporated as a city.  Settlers came to the growing town and with the boom came economic prosperity, electricity, paved streets and vision for the future.

While visiting the historic area you can’t miss the Murals of Moose Jaw, and eclectic collection of artistic building murals found within several square blocks of the city’s downtown.  There are 46 murals in all, and an easy walk takes you within sight of a majority of these tributes to the city. The murals range from “Braking New Ground,” dedicated to the pioneer’s determination to “prove his land” to obtain ownership, to “Summer Games,” a tribute to the sports played at the Saskatchewan Summer Games since 1976.