Fort Lisa (Nebraska) facts for kids

Fort Lisa was an important trading post built in 1812. It was located in what is now North Omaha, near the city of Omaha, Nebraska. A famous fur trader named Manuel Lisa and his company, the Missouri Fur Company, built it. The company was based in Saint Louis.

Fort Lisa was special for a few reasons in Nebraska's history:

• Manuel Lisa was the first European farmer in Nebraska.
• It was the first settlement built by American citizens in the Louisiana Purchase area.
• Lisa's third wife was the first woman of European descent to live in Nebraska.
• The first steamboat to travel on Nebraska's waters, called the Western Engineer, arrived at Fort Lisa in September 1819.

Fort Lisa: A Historic Trading Post

Manuel Lisa built Fort Lisa on the Missouri River. It was about 12 miles north of where Omaha is today. He built it after leaving his other trading posts in Montana and North Dakota. The War of 1812 made it hard to trade furs with Native Americans for several years.

Fort Lisa's Important Location

Fort Lisa was located a few miles south of an important spot called Council Bluff. This was where Lewis and Clark met with the Missouri and Otoe tribes in 1804. Today, that area is near Fort Calhoun.

You can find a plaque remembering Fort Lisa at 11808 John J. Pershing Drive. It's in the northeast part of Hummel Park, north of Florence, Nebraska. However, the exact spot where the fort stood is not known for sure.

Manuel Lisa's Role and Influence

Fort Lisa was a place where people traded furs, cattle, horses, and even land. Manuel Lisa also worked as a helper for the U.S. government with the nearby Native American tribes.

Manuel Lisa had a special connection with many Native American tribes because of his large trading network. He traveled a lot among them. He shared farm products and worked to build good relationships. He also encouraged trade.

Helping During the War of 1812

During the War of 1812, Manuel Lisa's influence from Fort Lisa was very strong. He helped keep all the Missouri River tribes allied with the United States. He even organized groups from Fort Lisa to go against tribes on the Mississippi River who were helping the British. At the same time, he made sure tribes along the northern Missouri River stayed loyal to the U.S.

The First Steamboat Arrives

In 1819, the first steamboat ever to travel on the Missouri River arrived at Fort Lisa. It was called the Western Engineer, and Stephen Harriman Long was its pilot. On board were important people like General Henry Atkinson and Captain Stephen Watt Kearny. These men would later be important in developing the American West. Later forts in the Nebraska Territory were named after them: Fort Atkinson and Fort Kearny.

The End of Fort Lisa

Manuel Lisa spent the winter of 1819-1820 at Fort Lisa with his third wife, Mary Hempstead Keeney. Major Stephen H. Long and his famous expedition also camped nearby that winter. In 1820, Lisa went back to Saint Louis, where he passed away that same year.

After Lisa's death, Major Joshua Pilcher took over Fort Lisa. He also became the new president of the Missouri Fur Company. Pilcher closed Fort Lisa in 1823. He then built a new trading post called Pilcher's Post further down the river, in what is now Bellevue.

Fort Lisa's Lasting Legacy

Fort Lisa likely played a role in where several other important historical places were built nearby. For example, the American Fur Company built Cabanne's Trading Post just two and a half miles south in 1822.

Having these trading posts close to each other, along with Fort Atkinson, influenced where other settlements appeared. These included Cutler's Park, the Mormon Bridge, Fort Omaha, and Florence. These places attracted pioneers traveling on the Mormon Trail. This led to the growth of towns like Kanesville, Omaha, and Saratoga. Eventually, it helped develop all of North Omaha and many other places during the western expansion of the United States.