Fort Lisa (North Dakota) facts for kids
The first Fort Lisa (1810-1812) was an important trading post for furs in the early 1800s. It was also known as the Fort Manuel Lisa Trading Post, Fort Manuel, or Fort Mandan. A famous fur trader named Manuel Lisa started it in 1809. He was part of the Missouri Fur Company. This fort is likely where Sacagawea passed away. She was a well-known guide for the Lewis and Clark Expedition. Fort Lisa took over from Fort Raymond as the main trading spot for the Missouri Fur Company further up the Missouri River. In 1812, Lisa built a new fort downriver near where North Omaha, Nebraska is today. He also called this new fort Fort Lisa.
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History of Fort Lisa
In the winter of 1807, Manuel Lisa opened Fort Raymond. This fort was located at the mouth of the Bighorn River in modern Montana. After returning to St. Louis the next year, he helped create the Missouri Fur Company. He worked with explorer William Clark and members of the Chouteau family, who founded St. Louis.
With many supplies and about 300 men, Lisa left in 1809 for a fur trading trip. After visiting Fort Raymond, he built a new station called Fort Lisa. He moved his trading activities to this new location. The new fort was built near a Hidatsa village. It was located between the Little Missouri and Knife rivers. This area is now in North Dakota. During its first year, Pierre Dorion Jr., his wife Marie Aioe Dorion, and their family lived at the fort.
What Fort Lisa Looked Like
John Bradbury visited Fort Lisa in 1811. He drew a picture and described it. He said the fort had a square building. The bottom part was used to store furs. The top part was where Mr. Lewis and some hunters lived.
There were also some smaller buildings outside. A tall fence, about fifteen feet high, surrounded the whole fort. This fence was made of strong, pointed wooden stakes, called a palisade or piquet. Bradbury also found a very nice garden attached to the fort. In the garden, they grew peas, beans, lettuce, radishes, and other vegetables.
Visitors from the Pacific Fur Company
Employees from the Pacific Fur Company visited Fort Lisa on June 23, 1811. These fellow fur traders were welcomed by Reuben Lewis. He was the brother of Meriwether Lewis. Ramsay Crooks led the group. He was sent by W. Price Hunt after they made a deal with Lisa to buy horses.
At that time, Fort Lisa did not have much food. Manuel Lisa arrived at the trading post on June 25. He finished the horse deal with Crooks. Crooks and his team left the next day. They went to the Arikara nation, where most of the Pacific Fur Company workers were staying.
Sacagawea at Fort Lisa
In 1811, Henry Brackenridge wrote in his journal that Sacagawea was living at Fort Lisa. Sacagawea was the famous Native American guide for the Lewis and Clark Expedition. She was living there with her husband, Toussaint Charbonneau. Brackenridge wrote that Sacagawea "had become sickly and longed to revisit her native country."
The next year, John Luttig, a clerk at Fort Manuel Lisa, wrote in his journal on December 20, 1812. He recorded that "the wife of Charbonneau, a Snake Squaw, died of putrid fever." This means she became very sick and passed away. Luttig noted that she was "aged about 25 years. She left a fine infant girl." Charbonneau had already asked Clark to care for his and Sacagawea's son, Jean Baptiste. Clark was very fond of the boy and offered to help pay for his schooling.
Why Fort Lisa Was Left Behind
It became difficult to trade with certain Native American groups at this location. Also, shipping goods became a problem. Because of these issues, the Missouri Fur Company stopped using Fort Lisa by 1812.
That same year, Lisa built a third fort downriver. It was about 12 miles north of where Omaha is today. He also named this new fort Fort Lisa. He moved all his trading work to this new spot. This new Fort Lisa became the main trading post for the Missouri Fur Company and the companies that followed it.
Images for kids
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Map of Montana rivers with the Bighorn (center) and Little Missouri (right).
