Fort Lisa (North Dakota) facts for kids
The first Fort Lisa was an important trading post for furs in the early 1800s. It was also known by other names like Fort Manuel Lisa Trading Post or Fort Mandan. A famous fur trader named Manuel Lisa started it in 1809. This fort is believed to be where Sacagawea passed away. Sacagawea was the brave Native American guide who helped the Lewis and Clark Expedition explore new lands. Fort Lisa was located near what is now Kenel, South Dakota. It was a key spot for the Missouri Fur Company along the Missouri River. Later, in 1812, Manuel Lisa built a new fort further down the river in Nebraska, also called Fort Lisa.
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Building a Fur Trading Post
In 1807, Manuel Lisa first set up Fort Raymond in what is now Montana. A year later, he went back to St. Louis and created the Missouri Fur Company. He partnered with famous explorer William Clark and the Chouteau family, who founded St. Louis.
With many workers, Lisa led a large fur expedition in 1809. After visiting Fort Raymond, he built a new trading post. He named this new station Fort Lisa and moved his operations there. This new Fort Lisa was located near a Hidatsa village. It was between the Little Missouri and Knife rivers in what is now 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
In 1811, a naturalist named John Bradbury visited Fort Lisa. He described it as a square block-house. The bottom part of the house was used to store furs. The top part was where Mr. Lewis and some hunters lived.
The fort also had some small outhouses. A tall fence, about fifteen feet high, surrounded the entire area. Bradbury also noted a very nice garden attached to the fort. In this garden, they grew peas, beans, salad, radishes, and other vegetables.
Visiting Fur Traders
On June 23, 1811, employees from the Pacific Fur Company visited Fort Lisa. Reuben Lewis, who was the brother of Meriwether Lewis, welcomed the fellow fur trappers. Ramsay Crooks led this group. He was sent by W. Price Hunt after making a deal with Lisa to buy horses. At that time, Fort Lisa had very little food. Manuel Lisa arrived at the trading post on June 25. He then finished the horse deal with Crooks. Crooks and his team left the next day to meet the rest of their workers.
Sacagawea's Time at Fort Lisa
In 1811, Henry Brackenridge wrote in his journal that Sacagawea was living at Fort Lisa. She was there with her husband, Charbonneau. Sacagawea was the famous Native American guide for the Lewis and Clark Expedition. Brackenridge noted that Sacagawea "...had become sickly and longed to revisit her native country."
The next year, on December 20, 1812, a clerk named John Luttig wrote in his journal. He recorded that "...the wife of Charbonneau, a Snake Squaw, died of putrid fever." This was an illness that often happened after childbirth. Luttig also wrote that she was "aged about 25 years. She left a fine infant girl." Charbonneau had already sent his and Sacagawea's son, Jean Baptiste, to live with William Clark. Clark wanted to support the boy's education.
Moving On: The Fort's Abandonment
By 1812, the first Fort Lisa was no longer used by the Missouri Fur Company. There were problems with some Native American groups and with shipping goods from this location. That same year, Manuel Lisa built a third fort further down the river. This new fort was about 12 miles north of what is now Omaha. He also named this new location Fort Lisa. This became the main trading post for the Missouri Fur Company for many years.
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