Gingras Trading Post State Historic Site facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Gingras House and Trading Post
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 Location in North Dakota
Location in the United States
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| Location | NE of Walhalla off ND 32 |
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| Nearest city | Walhalla, North Dakota |
| Built | 1845 |
| Architect | Antoine Blanc Gingras |
| NRHP reference No. | 75001305 |
| Added to NRHP | May 21, 1975 |
The Gingras Trading Post State Historic Site is a special historical place in North Dakota, close to Walhalla, North Dakota. It protects the old home and trading post of a man named Antoine Blanc Gingras. He was a Métis leader and a fur trader who lived from 1821 to 1877.
Who Was Antoine Blanc Gingras?
Antoine Gingras was born in 1821 in a place called Red River. His father, Antoine Cuthbert Gingras, was a "voyageur" for the North West Company. A voyageur was someone who traveled long distances by canoe to trade furs. Antoine's mother was Marguerite Madeleine Trottier.
Antoine started his working life as a hunter and trapper. In the 1840s, he built a two-story trading post and a house on his land. The trading post was made of logs, and the house had clapboard siding.
By 1861, Antoine Gingras was very successful. He owned many trading posts across the Dakota Territory and parts of southern Manitoba. In 1851, he was chosen to represent his area in the government of the Minnesota Territory. He served in this role from 1852 to 1853.
Antoine Gingras was also involved in important historical events. When Louis Riel started the 1869 Red River Rebellion, Gingras took part in those events. He was also present when the city of Winnipeg officially became a city in 1873. Antoine Gingras passed away on September 26, 1877, in Walhalla, North Dakota.
Gingras Trading Post Today
Today, the Gingras Trading Post is recognized as an important historical site. It is listed on the National Register of Historic Places, which means it's a special place worth protecting. The North Dakota State Historical Society takes care of the site.
When you visit, you can see the original buildings that Antoine Gingras built. There are also exhibits that teach you about Antoine Blanc Gingras, the Métis culture, and the fur trade in the Red River Valley. You can also see a recreated version of the Gingras Store, which shows what it might have looked like when it was open for business.
See also
- Métis
- List of the oldest buildings in North Dakota
