In 1973, the site was purchased by the municipal government, with the intention to develop it into a historic site. The city launched an archaeological study of the site in order to determine the exact location of the demolished fort. In 1975, during Calgary's centennial year, archaeologists unearthed parts of the original wooden fort and its artifacts. However, they were forced to quickly re-cover them due to their rapidly uncontrolled disintegration while exposed to the open-air. After an interpretive centre was built in 1977, the site was officially reopened as an organized historical museum in 1978. Initially the museum's exhibits concerned itself with the NWMP, the force's relationship with the First Nations, and the force's perception in popular culture; as opposed to the local history of Calgary.