The hut is named for Arthur Oliver Wheeler, who together with Elizabeth Parker and Stanley Mitchell, founded the Alpine Club of Canada.

Shortly after completion of its transcontinental main line in 1885, the Canadian Pacific Railway (CPR) built the nearby Glacier House in 1887 to serve as a restaurant and hotel for guests traveling on the line.

For the first quarter of the 20th century, it served as a centre of alpinism until it was closed in 1925 after the CPR Connaught Tunnel under Rogers Pass bypassed it.

[2] Since its completion the hut has seen numerous upgrades and renovations, but remains rich in charm and history.

There are two wood stoves for heating and drying gear, and a kitchen with propane ranges and oven.