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. A famous fur trader named Manuel Lisa and his company, the Missouri Fur Company, built it. This 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 the area. It was also the first settlement built by American citizens in the land bought during the Louisiana Purchase. Manuel Lisa's wife was the first European woman to live in Nebraska. Plus, the first steamboat to travel on Nebraska's rivers, called the Western Engineer, arrived at Fort Lisa in September 1819. The fort operated until 1823.
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History of Fort Lisa
Where Was Fort Lisa Located?
Manuel Lisa built Fort Lisa along the Missouri River. It was about 12 miles north of where the city of Omaha is today. He had left his earlier trading posts further up the Missouri River. These included Fort Raymond in Montana and another Fort Lisa in North Dakota. The War of 1812 made it hard to trade furs with Native Americans for several years.
Fort Lisa (in Nebraska) was located a few miles south of the original Council Bluff. This was where Lewis and Clark met with the Missouri and Otoe Native American tribes in 1804. Today, that area is near Fort Calhoun. There is a plaque remembering Fort Lisa at 11808 John J. Pershing Drive in Hummel Park. However, the exact spot where the fort stood is not known for sure.
What Happened at Fort Lisa?
The fort was a busy place for trading. People traded furs, cattle, horses, and even land there. Manuel Lisa also worked for the government from the fort. He helped manage relations with the nearby Native American tribes.
Manuel Lisa had a large network of traders. This gave him a special role with the Native American tribes. He traveled a lot among them. He shared farm products and built good relationships. He also encouraged trade. It is believed that Manuel Lisa's influence from Fort Lisa was so strong. He kept all the Missouri River tribes allied with the United States during the War of 1812. He even organized war parties from Fort Lisa. These groups fought against tribes on the Mississippi River who were allied with the British. At the same time, he made sure tribes along the northern Missouri River stayed loyal.
The First Steamboat Arrives
In 1819, the Western Engineer became the first steamboat to travel on the Missouri River. It arrived at Fort Lisa. Stephen Harriman Long was the pilot of this important ship. On board were General Henry Atkinson and Captain Stephen Watt Kearny. Both men were very important for the future growth of the American West. Later forts in the Nebraska Territory were named after them: Fort Atkinson and Fort Kearny.
Manuel Lisa spent the winter of 1819-1820 at Fort Lisa. His third wife, Mary Hempstead Keeney, was with him. Major Stephen H. Long and his famous expedition also stayed nearby. They camped about a mile and a half north of Fort Lisa that winter. In 1820, Lisa went back to St. Louis, where he passed away that same year.
The Fort's Later Years
After Manuel Lisa died, Major Joshua Pilcher took over running 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 downriver. This new post was located in what is now Bellevue.
Fort Lisa likely helped decide where several other important places were built. For example, the American Fur Company built Cabanne's Trading Post nearby in 1822. It was about two and a half miles south. The closeness of these posts, along with Fort Atkinson, influenced where other settlements were built. 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 Kanesville, Omaha, Saratoga, and eventually all of North Omaha. It also helped with the western expansion of the United States.
See also
- Cabanne's Trading Post
- Engineer Cantonment
- Fort Atkinson
- Winter Quarters
- History of North Omaha, Nebraska
- Landmarks in North Omaha, Nebraska
- Louisiana Purchase
- Nebraska Territory
- Timeline of North Omaha, Nebraska history
