Fort Raymond facts for kids

Fort Raymond, also known as Manuel's Fort or Fort Manuel, was an early trading post. It was built by a fur trader named Manuel Lisa and was named after his son.

This fort was located where the Bighorn River meets the Yellowstone River. When it was built in 1807, it was the very first trading post set up by European settlers in what is now the state of Montana. Fort Raymond was the first of several trading posts that Manuel Lisa would establish during his time in the growing fur trade business.

Some famous explorers from the Corps of Discovery expedition worked at Fort Raymond. These included George Drouillard, John Colter, and Peter M. Weiser.

Building the Fort and Early Days

Work on Fort Raymond began in November 1807. The first buildings were simple shelters. There was also a trading house with two rooms and a loft. Manuel Lisa himself managed the daily operations of the fort for nine months after it opened.

During the winter, John Colter was sent on an important mission. He carried trade goods to the lands of the Niitsitapi people. His goal was to start trading with them. Colter met some Indigenous men and decided to travel with them. These men were from the Salish and Apsáalooke nations. These groups were traditional rivals of the Niitsitapi.

A Difficult Encounter

While traveling, Colter's group met an armed group of Niitsitapi warriors. A battle quickly started. Colter joined his traveling companions in fighting against the Niitsitapi. The Niitsitapi warriors noticed Colter's presence in the battle. This event sadly made future trading relations between Manuel Lisa's company and the Niitsitapi very difficult.

Later Years and Abandonment

Manuel Lisa returned to St. Louis in 1808. He left a group of fur trappers to manage Fort Raymond. When he arrived in St. Louis, Lisa teamed up with William Clark. Together, they formed a new company called the Missouri Fur Company (MFC). Their goal was to expand the fur trade.

In the spring of 1809, Lisa returned to Fort Raymond. He officially made the fort a property of the Missouri Fur Company. However, Fort Raymond was not used for long. It was abandoned in 1810 after a new trading post, Fort Lisa, was opened further north.

See also

In Spanish: Fort Raymond para niños