Fort Union Trading Post National Historic Site facts for kids
|
Fort Union Trading Post National Historic Site
|
|
|
|
 Location in North Dakota
Location in the United States
|
|
| Location | McKenzie and Williams counties, North Dakota, and Richland and Roosevelt counties, Montana |
|---|---|
| Nearest city | Williston, North Dakota |
| Area | 444 acres (1.80 km2) |
| Built | 1828 |
| Architectural style | Greek Revival |
| Visitation | 16,940 (2005) |
| Website | Fort Union Trading Post National Historic Site |
| NRHP reference No. | 66000103 |
Quick facts for kids Significant dates |
|
| Added to NRHP | October 15, 1966 |
| Designated NHL | July 4, 1961 |
| Designated NHS | June 20, 1966 |
Fort Union Trading Post National Historic Site is a special place that shows us what an important fur trading post looked like. It was built on the upper Missouri River between 1829 and 1867. This fort was one of the busiest trading spots in the area.
The site is located about two miles from where the Missouri River and the Yellowstone River meet. It's right on the border between North Dakota and Montana, near Williston, North Dakota. Today, parts of the fort have been rebuilt to show how it might have looked in 1851. This was done using old drawings and things found by archaeologists. For example, a Swiss artist named Rudolf Friedrich Kurz worked there in 1851 and made drawings.
In 1961, the government officially recognized Fort Union as a National Historic Landmark. This means it's a very important historical place in the United States. The National Park Service manages the site, making sure it's preserved and that visitors can learn about its past.
Contents
The Story of Fort Union
Fort Union was built around 1828 or 1829. It was set up by a group called the Upper Missouri Outfit, led by Kenneth McKenzie. This group was part of John Jacob Astor's American Fur Company. Astor's company was very powerful and controlled most of the fur trade at the time.
A Busy Trading Hub
From its start until 1867, Fort Union was the most important trading post on the upper Missouri River. It played a huge role in the fur trade in Montana. Many different Native American tribes came here to trade. These included the Assiniboine, Crow, Cree, Ojibwe, Blackfoot, Hidatsa, and Lakota.
They traded valuable buffalo robes and other animal furs. In return, they received goods made by Europeans and Americans. These goods included things like:
- Manufactured beads
- Clay pipes
- Guns
- Warm blankets
- Knives
- Cookware
- Cloth
Famous Visitors to the Fort
Many well-known people visited Fort Union during its active years. Some of these visitors were:
- John James Audubon, a famous bird artist
- Sha-có-pay, a Native American leader
- Captain Joseph LaBarge, a steamboat captain
- Jesuit missionary Father Pierre-Jean De Smet
- Artist George Catlin
- Sitting Bull, a famous Lakota leader
- Karl Bodmer, another artist
- Hugh Glass, a mountain man
- Jim Bridger, a well-known trader
Changes in Trade
At first, the main item traded by Native Americans was beaver pelts. This was because beaver hats were very popular in the eastern United States and in Europe. But in the 1830s, silk and woolen hats became more fashionable. This meant people didn't want beaver pelts as much. So, the trade at Fort Union changed. It shifted to focus more on bison robes, which were still in high demand.
Why Fort Union Was Important
Fort Union was a safe place for many people living on the frontier. It helped the economy grow in the American Northwest. As the main base for the American Fur Company, it was key to the success of the fur trade. The leaders of the fur trade, like John Jacob Astor, even influenced government decisions about Native American nations in the area.
The fort's location near the northern border of the United States also showed that the U.S. had control over the region. It was a symbol of the country's presence.
Firearms and Trade
The fort kept a large supply of firearms. These guns were traded with Native American tribes for furs. The tribes then used these firearms for hunting animals like buffalo. Many Northern Plains tribes preferred a type of gun called the "North West Gun." This was an English-made flintlock gun known for being reliable and good quality.
Life and Challenges at the Fort
Conflicts between European-American traders and Native Americans were not as common around Fort Union as conflicts between different Native American tribes. However, there were times of tension. For example, in the summer of 1863, some tribes along the upper Missouri River became less friendly towards white traders. During these times, Fort Union faced challenges, and steamboats traveling on the river could be in danger.
Images for kids
-
View inside Fort Union from the Southwest bastion looking towards the Bourgeois (manager's) house.
