Fort Walsh facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Fort Walsh |
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| Type | Fort |
| Location | RM of Maple Creek No. 111, Saskatchewan, Canada |
| Nearest city | Maple Creek |
| Established | 1873 trading post; 1878 Headquarters NWMP |
| Founder | North-West Mounted Police |
| Built | 1875 (original); c. 1940 (reconstructed) |
| Governing body | Parks Canada |
| Important events | Cypress Hills Massacre |
| Website | Fort Walsh National Historic Site |
| Fort Walsh | |
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| Cypress Hills (Canada) | |
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| Type | Fort |
| Site information | |
| Controlled by | North-West Mounted Police |
| Site history | |
| Built | 1875 |
| In use | until 1883 |
| Fate | Demolished, later reconstructed as national historic site |
| Battles/wars | Cypress Hills Massacre |
| Garrison information | |
| Past commanders |
James Morrow Walsh |
Fort Walsh is a very important place in Canadian history. It is a National Historic Site of Canada. This means it is protected because of its special past. It was once a fort for the North-West Mounted Police (NWMP). This group later became the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) that we know today. Fort Walsh is also where a sad event called the Cypress Hills Massacre happened.
Today, Parks Canada looks after Fort Walsh. It is part of the beautiful Cypress Hills Interprovincial Park.
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Fort Walsh: A Historic Canadian Fort
Fort Walsh was built in June 1875. It was named after its builder, Inspector James Morrow Walsh. The fort had several important jobs.
Why Fort Walsh Was Built
The fort was built to stop the illegal trade of whisky. This trade caused many problems in the area. It also helped protect Canada's border with the United States. Another big reason for the fort was to help manage relationships with Indigenous peoples. These needs became very clear after the Cypress Hills Massacre in 1873. This was a terrible conflict that made the government realize they needed a police force. Because of this, Prime Minister John A. Macdonald created the NWMP.
Important Events at the Fort
On September 25, 1877, some important agreements were made at Fort Walsh. Assiniboine chiefs Man Who Takes the Coat, Long Lodge, and Lean Man signed an addition to Treaty 4 here. Treaties are agreements between governments and Indigenous peoples.
Fort Walsh was the main headquarters for the NWMP from 1878 to 1882. This means it was the most important police base in the region. In 1883, the fort was closed down and taken apart.
Fort Walsh Today
In 1924, the site of Fort Walsh was officially named a National Historic Site of Canada. This helped protect its history. The fort was later rebuilt in the 1940s. It was used to breed horses for the Royal Canadian Mounted Police and their famous Musical Ride.
Today, visitors can explore the fort's buildings. You can also see the old townsite, cemeteries, and a whisky trading post. On September 28, 2004, Fort Walsh became part of the Cypress Hills dark-sky preserve. This means the area is protected from light pollution, making it great for stargazing!
In 1985, Canada Post made a special stamp featuring Fort Walsh. It was part of a series called "Forts Across Canada."
See also
