Fort Nikolaevskaia facts for kids
Fort Nikolaevskaia (also known as Fort St. Nicholas or Nikolaevskii Redoubt) was an important fur trading post in Alaska. It was the very first European settlement on the Alaskan mainland. Founded by the Lebedev-Lastochkin Company (LLC), it was located where the modern city of Kenai stands today. This fort was one of several posts the company had along the Cook Inlet. When the Russian-American Company became the main fur trading company in Russian America in 1799, Fort Nikolaevskaia continued to operate until the Alaska Purchase in 1867.
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Building the Fort: A New Start in Alaska
In 1786, a ship called the Sv. Pavel, led by Pytor Zaikov, sailed to Three Saints Bay on Kodiak Island. This area was a busy center for a rival fur company, the Shelikhov-Golikov Company (SGC). Even though there was competition, Zaikov and his crew spent the winter there.
Zaikov talked with Evstratii Delarov about finding a good spot for a new trading post. Delarov suggested Cook Inlet. On June 1, 1787, the Sv. Pavel entered Cook Inlet. They sailed past another fort and chose a spot at the entrance of the Kenai River. Here, Fort Nikolaevskaia was built. A wooden carving of the Russian imperial arms was placed above the fort. Both Russian companies quickly hunted sea otters in the inlet, almost making them disappear.
A Visitor's View: George Vancouver's Description
On May 10, 1794, British captain George Vancouver visited Fort Nikolaevskaia during his Vancouver Expedition. He noted that the fort had about 25 buildings inside its walls. Besides the commander's house, there were 23 other homes. These were "all huddled together" and mostly housed Dena'ina workers or their families.
Vancouver described the fort as a square area, about 100 yards wide. It was surrounded by a strong fence made of pine and birch logs, about 12 feet high. He thought this fence wouldn't offer much protection against attacks, especially from fire. The buildings inside were made of wood with thatched roofs, making them easy to burn. The largest building was like a barn, about 35 yards long and 35 feet wide. This big building was where 36 Russian workers lived.
Life and Challenges at the Fort
Fort Nikolaevskaia quickly became the main base for the Lebedev-Lastochkin Company's fur trapping in Cook Inlet. After two years, Zaikov left in 1789, taking furs worth a lot of money back to Okhotsk. The fort then had 38 people, including Russians, Dena'inas, and Itelmens, with Pytor Kolomin in charge.
Working with Local People
The people living along the Alaskan coast were excellent hunters of marine animals. Russian fur companies often hired them as workers. However, the Lebedev-Lastochkin Company was known for treating local Alaskan Natives unfairly. They paid very little for furs and labor. Sometimes, they even forced people to work for them. As time went on, supplies at the fort ran low. Tensions grew with the nearby Dena'ina people, leading to conflicts.
Changes in Leadership and Conflicts
In August 1791, new supplies and workers arrived on the ship Sv. Georgii, led by Grigorii Konovlov. Konovlov and his 63 workers took over the fort from Kolomin. Konovlov caused many problems in the area. He was known for being unfair to his rivals and treating the local people badly. During the winter of 1791, attacks by the Dena'ina increased. This was partly because the Russians were destroying the traditional food sources the Dena'ina relied on.
When Zaikov returned in 1792, Konovlov and some of his staff were arrested. They were sent away to Okhotsk. Zaikov continued to manage the trading post until it closed in 1798.
The End of an Era
In the spring of 1798, the harsh actions of the LLC merchants led to armed resistance. Dena'ina groups destroyed LLC trading posts at Old Iliamna and Tyonek. Many native workers and Russians were killed during these attacks. Fort Nikolaevskaia itself was soon surrounded. However, a group of Russians from a competing company, the United American Company, helped break the attacks.
The ship Sv. Ioann Bogoslov was made ready for sea. Zaikov and 60 Russian LLC employees sailed away. Fort Nikolaevskaia continued to be used as a base for trapping in Cook Inlet until the Alaska Purchase. First, it was used by the United American Company, and later by the Russian-American Company.
Images for kids
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'Ft. St. Nicholas', as shown on an 1867 map of Alaska
