Fort William Historical Park facts for kids
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| Former name | Old Fort William |
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| Established | 1973 |
| Location | Thunder Bay, Ontario, Canada. |
| Type | Historical Park |
| Owner | Ontario Ministry of Tourism, Culture and Sport |
| Public transit access |  Thunder Bay Transit [[|4]] |
Fort William Historical Park is an exciting historical site in Thunder Bay, Ontario, Canada. It's a rebuilt version of an old fur trading post from the year 1816. This amazing park first opened its doors on July 3, 1973.
You can find the park along the Kaministiquia River. The original fort was a bit further downstream, but this spot, called Point de Meuron, was also important. It was once home to another trading post belonging to the Hudson's Bay Company.
Contents
Exploring Fort William's Past
Fort William Historical Park is known as a "living history" site. This means you can see history come alive! Many old buildings have been rebuilt to show what the trading post was like. People dressed in historical costumes act out what life was like in 1816.
Life at the Fur Trade Post
Fort William wasn't just a small town. It was a huge hub for the North West Company's fur trade network. Because it was so important, Fort William was much bigger than other trading posts. It had more buildings and facilities. Today, the park has 42 rebuilt buildings, a recreated Ojibwa village, and a small farm.
Meet the People of the Past
Historical interpreters play the roles of different people from the fur trade era. You'll meet Scottish fur traders, who were often the leaders. They sometimes married Native American women and had families living with them. You'll also see French Canadian voyageurs, who were the workers and paddlers. They also often married Native women. And of course, there are Native hunters and trappers. The Native people in the Fort William area were mostly Ojibwa, and they are well-represented by the interpreters.
Skilled Workers and Their Crafts
Fort William Historical Park has a community of skilled tradesmen. These include a blacksmith, tinsmith, carpenter, cooper, and a birch bark canoe builder. They all create products using old methods and tools from the early 1800s. Many of their crafts are rare today. The park's canoe builder has even made birch bark canoes for other Canadian historical sites!
The Great Rendezvous Event
Every summer, Fort William Historical Park hosts a special event called the "Great Rendezvous." This event recreates the yearly meeting of fur traders that happened at this central location long ago. People from all over Canada and the United States come to camp at the park for the weekend. They take part in this exciting historical reenactment.
Where is the Park Located?
The park is at the south end of King Road. King Road is off Broadway Avenue, about two kilometers west of Highway 61. You can even get there by bus! Thunder Bay Transit’s route 4 Neebing makes several trips that include Fort William Historical Park on weekdays.
The Amphitheatre: A Place for Events
In 2008, the fort built a large outdoor amphitheatre. It's one of Canada's biggest outdoor entertainment spots! This amphitheatre can host events with up to 50,000 people. It's also designed to hold several smaller events at the same time. The Amphitheatre is used all year round. In winter, it can even have six hockey rinks! In summer, it becomes a full-service campground for special events and concerts.
Images for kids
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Fort William Historical Park
