A dam built by the Canadian Pacific Railway (CPR) nearly 140 years ago has become a living piece of history. Swift Current's CPR Dam, located in Riverside Park, was built to provide essential water to the steam-powered locomotives that frequently stopped in Swift Current while travelling the CPR's main line. Constructed out of stones and planks between January 1888 and December 1888, the dam measures around 139 metres long with a 55-metre-long spillway. Water was pumped from the dam to the Roundhouse and the water tank located near the train station. The dam was recognized as a Municipal Heritage Property on May 6, 1985, and has been listed on the Canadian Register since 2006. Canada's Historic Places says that the heritage value lies in character-defining elements, including "the original location on the Swift Current Creek, its low profile, earth-filled construction with north and south retaining walls totalling 84.4 metres in length; an overflow 54.9 metres in length with a concrete crest, wing walls and wooden plank spillway." Related Stories: Southwest History: Local man recognized for restoration of heritage site Southwest History: Local legacy of the Lee Bridge In the spring of 2019, Timber Restoration Services was awarded the tender for the restoration of the CPR Dam following a heavy rainfall that saw flooding and damage to the spillway. Timber Restoration Services restored sections of the spillway and erected a viewing platform with a new railing on the west side of the dam. Construction was completed in December of that year.