Fort Stikine facts for kids

Fort Stikine was an important trading post and fort in what is now Southeast Alaska. It was located where the city of Wrangell, Alaska is today. The fort was first built in 1834 by the Russians and called the Redoubt San Dionisio or Redoubt Saint Dionysius.

In 1839, the fort was given to the British-owned Hudson's Bay Company (HBC) as part of a special agreement. They renamed it Fort Stikine. Even after the fort closed in 1843, the name stuck. A large village of the Stikine people grew around it, later known as Shakesville after their leader, Chief Shakes.

When the United States bought Alaska in 1867 (the Alaska Purchase), the US Army took over the fort. They renamed it Fort Wrangel, honoring Ferdinand von Wrangel, who was the governor of Russian America when the fort was first built. Today, the site is part of the city of Wrangell.

Early Russian Claims

In 1799, the Russian Empire claimed ownership of the Pacific coast of North America, down to a certain latitude. They soon founded Novo-Arkhangelsk (now Sitka). Later, in 1821, Emperor Alexander I tried to extend Russia's claim even further south. He also said foreign ships could not come within 100 miles of Russian settlements.

Other countries protested this. So, Russia agreed to a boundary line at 54 degrees 40 minutes north latitude. This was set in treaties with the United States (1824) and Great Britain (1825). This line included all of Prince of Wales Island within Russian territory.

Treaty and Trade Routes

The 1825 treaty between Russia and Britain also set a land boundary. It said British companies could use the Taku and Stikine Rivers. These rivers were important for reaching the interior lands of what is now northern British Columbia.

The Hudson's Bay Company (HBC) wanted to set up new trading posts. They planned to build a post on the Nass River to help with their fur trade. However, an illness at Fort Vancouver delayed their plans until 1833.

Redoubt Saint Dionysius is Built

In 1833, the Russian-American Company (RAC) sent a group to the Nass River. They found that the local Stikine people were open to both Russian and British trading posts. This worried the Russians.

To stop the HBC from getting to the Stikine River, Baron Wrangel decided to build a fort at the river's mouth. In late 1833, Russian workers began building a fort called the Redoubt Saint Dionysius. It was on the Stikine Strait, likely on Zarembo Island. Its main goal was to control the fur trade in the area.

In 1834, HBC employees, led by Peter Skene Ogden, arrived at the Redoubt Saint Dionysius. They wanted to set up their own trading post upriver. The Russian officer, Dionysius Zarembo, told them they could not trade or enter the Stikine River. He said it was against the treaty and his orders from Baron Wrangel.

This led to a standoff. Russian ships arrived, and Ogden's men were forced away. Their supplies, meant for trade, were taken.

Hudson's Bay Company Takes Over

When the HBC leaders in London heard about the confrontation, they were very upset. They pressured the British government to get money from Russia for the damages. Because of the trouble and cost, Baron von Wrangel lost his job.

In 1839, a new agreement was signed, called the RAC-HBC Agreement. This deal allowed the HBC to build posts at the mouths of the Taku and Stikine rivers. It also leased a large area of land and islands to the HBC. In return, the HBC would give furs to the RAC each year. They would also supply the Russian settlements with tools and farm products. The HBC even created a special company, the Pugets Sound Agricultural Company, to help provide these goods.

Fort Stikine is Established

In 1839, James Douglas from the HBC was sent north. He was to establish "Fort Stickeen" and another fort called Fort Durham (also known as Fort Taku).

Fort Stikine was built near the ceremonial house of the Shtakeen Kwaan (Stikine Tribe), led by Chief Shakes. There were some disagreements about who would control the fur trade. Eventually, the main village of the Stikine tribe moved near the fort. Agreements were made with Chief Shakes about trading with other tribes.

However, the fur trade had an unexpected side effect. It led to more conflicts and raids between the Haida and Tlingit tribes. They would raid other tribes to get goods to trade for furs at the HBC post.

Fort Stikine Closes

The HBC leaders saw the increased conflicts as a big problem. They also worried that there were not enough fur-bearing animals left in the area. In 1841, Governor Simpson toured the HBC locations. He decided to close Fort Stikine and other nearby posts.

Only Fort Simpson would remain open. With the help of the steamship Beaver, this one fort was seen as enough to keep the fur trade profitable in the region. Fort Simpson was later moved to a better location near today's Prince Rupert.

Later Years

After the HBC left, Chief Shakes took control of the old fort site and the Stikine River trade. In the 1850s, gold was discovered in the Queen Charlotte Islands and later in other areas. This brought many new people, mostly white miners, to the region.

One adventurer, Alexander "Buck" Choquette, came to the area. He had learned the Chinook Jargon language. He met some of Chief Shakes' people and went with them to the Stikine. The old fort site was now known as Shakesville. Choquette earned Chief Shakes' respect and married his daughter, Georgiana.

Stikine Gold Rush

In the spring of 1861, Choquette found gold up the Stikine River. This spot became known as Buck Bar. When news of his discovery spread, it started the Stikine Gold Rush. Many miners came to the Stikine River. Fort Stikine, or Shakesville, became a busy stop for steamboats heading upriver.

To prevent American miners from taking over the area, Governor Douglas created the Stikine Territory. This new territory covered the lands inland from Russian America.

Choquette knew that selling supplies to miners could be more profitable than mining itself. He got permission to sell HBC goods at his post upriver and at Shakesville. He continued his business, moving his store as the gold rush activity changed.

By 1867, the gold rush was mostly over. The United States bought Alaska from Russia. Choquette decided to move his store into British territory to avoid American taxes. He opened a new store near the Great Glacier. He later became in charge of a customs post and HBC store there.

Fort Wrangel is Established

After Choquette left, American troops took over the old Fort Stikine. They renamed it Fort Wrangel. It was the second US Army post in Alaska. Fort Wrangel was important because it controlled the main way to get inland. It was also a good place to collect customs duties.

In 1870, more gold was found near Dease Lake, starting the Cassiar Gold Rush. Thousands of miners again passed through Fort Wrangel. The US authorities tried to control British ships going up the Stikine. A compromise was reached, and a conflict was avoided.

Fort Wrangel remained a key US military base in the region. It played a role in the Klondike Gold Rush from 1897. It was also important during the Alaska boundary dispute, which was settled in 1903.

Images for kids

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  Village of Wrangel Alaska (Tlingit: Ḵaachx̱aana.áakʼw) in 1868 - in present-day Front Street.