Fort Durham facts for kids
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Fort Durham Site
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| Location | Address restricted , Juneau City and Borough, Alaska, USA |
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| Nearest city | Juneau, Alaska |
| Built | 1840 |
| Architect | James Douglas |
| NRHP reference No. | 78000529 |
Quick facts for kids Significant dates |
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| Added to NRHP | May 5, 1978 |
| Designated NHL | June 2, 1978 |
Fort Durham, also known as Fort Taku, is an archaeological site in Alaska. An archaeological site is a place where people find old things from the past. This site is near Taku Harbor, Alaska and within the Tongass National Forest.
Fort Durham was one of three trading posts built by the Hudson's Bay Company (HBC) in a region then called Russian America. Today, this area is part of Alaska. The Fort Durham Site was recognized as a special historical place in the U.S. in 1978. It is now a National Historic Landmark.
Why Fort Durham Was Built
In the 1830s, two big trading companies were active in North America. These were the Hudson's Bay Company (HBC) from Britain and the Russian-American Company (RAC) from Russia. They both wanted to trade for furs.
In 1834, the HBC tried to set up a trading post on the Stikine River. But the RAC stopped them. This caused a big disagreement between the two companies.
Finally, in 1839, the Russian government told the RAC to make a deal with the HBC. They signed an agreement called the RAC-HBC Agreement. This deal allowed the HBC to use a part of what is now Southeast Alaska for ten years. In return, the HBC would provide food and supplies to the Russian settlements.
This agreement meant the HBC could build new trading posts and trade furs along the coast.
Building Fort Durham
The Hudson's Bay Company quickly used this new agreement. In 1840, they sent a man named James Douglas north on a steamship called the Beaver.
Douglas explored the Taku River area. He then chose a spot on the coast, just south of the river's mouth, to build a new fort. This fort became known as Fort Durham, or sometimes Fort Taku.
At the same time, the HBC also took over another Russian fort. This fort was called Redoubt San Dionisio, near today's Wrangell, Alaska. The HBC renamed it Fort Stikine.
Why Fort Durham Closed
Fort Durham did not stay open for very long. In 1841, the HBC governor, George Simpson, decided to close Fort Durham and other smaller posts along the coast.
He realized that the steamship Beaver could do most of the fur trading along the coast by itself. They did not need many permanent forts.
So, the Hudson's Bay Company closed Fort Durham in 1843. Most of the workers from Fort Durham, who were from Hawaii, were sent to work at Fort Victoria instead.
