Fort Nez Percés facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Fort Nez Percés |
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| Fur Trade Outpost | |
Fort Nez Percés in 1818.
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| Constructed: | 1818 |
| Company built: | North West Company |
| Location: | Wallula, Washington |
| Continent: | North America |
| Later Ownership: | 1821, Hudson's Bay Company |
| Abandoned: | 1857 |
Fort Nez Percés, also called Old Fort Walla Walla, was an important trading post for furs. It was built in 1818 by the North West Company. Later, the Hudson's Bay Company took over. The fort was located in what is now Wallula, Washington. Even though it was named after the Nez Perce people, it was actually on the land of the Walla Walla people. The fort closed in 1857.
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Building the Fort: North West Company
In 1811, explorer David Thompson traveled down the Columbia River. He stopped where the Snake River joins the Columbia. He put up a pole to claim the land for Great Britain. He also announced that the North West Company planned to build a trading post there. Later, the company decided to build the fort near the Walla Walla River.
Building the fort started in July 1818. Donald MacKenzie and Alexander Ross led 95 workers. These workers included Iroquois, Hawaiians, and French-Canadians. The company bought food from the Nez Perce people.
The area around the fort had no trees. So, workers had to cut timber 100 miles away. They floated the logs down the river to the building site. As construction continued, relations with the Nez Perce became difficult. Alexander Ross remembered that the tribes wanted payment for the timber. They also stopped the workers from hunting and fishing. They set very high prices for trade goods.
To protect the workers, the company built a strong fence. They then talked with Nez Perce leaders. They reached an agreement, which ended "many anxious days and sleepless nights." Ross became the first manager of the fort.
Why the Fort Was Built Here
Fort Nez Percés was built on the east bank of the Columbia River. It was half a mile north of the Walla Walla River's mouth. It was also a few miles below the Snake River's mouth. This spot was chosen because it was very important for trade.
The nearby Walla Walla Valley was a meeting point for fur traders. In 1815, the North West Company decided to focus its trade routes on the Columbia River. This meant more traffic on the river. Donald MacKenzie also wanted to open up the Snake River area for trapping. All these activities met near where the fort was built.
Most company goods traveled through the Columbia River Gorge. The fort's location at the eastern end of this route made it the most important inland post. Also, there was growing tension with local Native American tribes. This made a strong, permanent fort necessary. The area was also important to the tribes. It was a major meeting and trading place. It was also where Lewis and Clark first met the local people.
How the Fort Looked
The fort was built with two walls, which was unusual. The inner wall was 12 feet (3.7 meters) high. There was a 5-foot (1.5-meter) wide "strong gallery" between the two walls. The storage buildings and homes were inside. Trading happened through a small hole in the inner wall.
The outer wall was made of planks 20 feet (6.1 meters) high and 6 inches (15 cm) thick. It had a 4-foot (1.2-meter) high railing on top. There were towers at each of the fort's four corners. These towers held large water tanks to fight fires. Alexander Ross called it "the strongest and most complete fort west of the Rocky Mountains."
In 1836, William H. Gray described the fort. He said it was a strong stockade made of driftwood. It had two log towers. One tower was on the southwest corner, watching the river. The other was on the northeast corner, watching the north and east sides. Each tower had two small cannons and other weapons. The area around the fort was cleared of bushes. This made it hard for anyone to get close without being seen. Inside the fort were houses, a store, and rooms for the men. There was also a space to keep about 100 horses.
Exploring the Snake River
In September 1818, Donald MacKenzie left Fort Nez Percés. He led a large group to trap furs in the Snake River country. This was a new way of doing things for the North West Company. MacKenzie spent the winter of 1818-19 trapping in a large area. He returned in July 1819 with many valuable furs. This proved that building Fort Nez Percés was a good idea. The trips to the Snake River country became a yearly event. They brought in a large part of the company's furs from west of the Rocky Mountains.
Hudson's Bay Company Takes Over
In 1821, the North West Company and the Hudson's Bay Company joined together. The Hudson's Bay Company took over all operations. Fort Nez Percés remained an important fur trade post. It was a base for beaver hunting trips. It was also a key stop on the York Factory Express trade route. This route went to London through Hudson Bay.
The fort also helped early American pioneers on the Oregon Trail. Along with other Hudson's Bay Company forts, it gave much-needed aid to travelers.
The Fort Is Rebuilt
On October 5, 1841, the fort was destroyed by fire. This happened shortly after a visit from the American Charles Wilkes expedition. A group of settlers from the Red River Colony passed by the day before the fire. They helped save what they could. But they decided not to stay because there were many Native Americans in the area.
Fort Nez Percés was then rebuilt using adobe bricks. The buildings inside the fort had wooden frames and adobe brick walls. The bricks were made from local "wild rye." Some bricks may have come from Marcus Whitman's mission nearby.
Under United States Control
In 1846, the Oregon Treaty changed the border between Britain and the United States. The fort ended up on U.S. soil. The new border was much further north, at the 49th parallel north. The treaty allowed the Hudson's Bay Company to use the Columbia River. It also let them keep their trading posts.
The Hudson's Bay Company continued to run Fort Nez Percés for another ten years. In 1855, it was burned down again at the start of the Yakima War. James Sinclair was among those who died in a battle. The fort was rebuilt a second time. However, it was finally abandoned in 1857. The Hudson's Bay Company stopped its business in the Oregon Territory. Its main office for the area moved to Fort Victoria.
Today, the site of the old fort is now Wallula, Washington.
New Fort Walla Walla
The U.S. military built a new Fort Walla Walla in 1858. This new fort was located in nearby Walla Walla, Washington.
Images for kids
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Fort Nez Percés in 1818.
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David Thompson explored the Columbia River in 1811.
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Fort Nez Percés was a key stop on the York Factory Express trade route.
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Fur trading at Fort Nez Percés in 1841.
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Fort Nez Percés in 1853.
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Looking down on the location of Fort Nez Percés in 2006.
