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List of fur trading posts in Montana facts for kids

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Map with site of Forts Kipp and Stewart in Montana
The site of Forts Kipp and Stewart near the Missouri
Fort Campbell in 1865. A trading post in Montana
A sketch of Fort Campbell

This article lists the important trading posts and forts that existed in what is now Montana. These places were active from 1807 until the end of the fur trading era in the state. They were key spots where explorers and traders met with Native American tribes to exchange goods, especially animal furs.

History of Fur Trading Posts

The story of fur trading posts in Montana began with brave explorers. In 1805, a fur trader named Francois-Antoine Larocque from the North West Company traveled through eastern Montana. Soon after, the famous Lewis and Clark Expedition explored the area, opening it up for more trade.

The very first fur trading post in Montana was Fort Raymond. It was built in 1807 where the Yellowstone River and Bighorn River meet. Here, traders exchanged goods with the Crow Nation. This fort was active until about 1813.

After Fort Raymond, many more trading posts popped up. Different companies from both Canada and the United States built them. These posts were often located along major rivers in the plains and mountain valleys. Some big forts stayed open for many years. Others lasted only a season, sometimes destroyed by weather or even burned by Native Americans. Today, some of these old trading spots are recognized as important historic sites.

List of Trading Posts and Forts

Here is a list of some of the important fur trading posts and forts in Montana. They are listed in alphabetical order.

Name Other Names Location County Company Active Years Main Customers Remarks
Big Horn Post#2 Confluence of the Bighorn and the Yellowstone Rivers Treasure Rocky Mountain Fur Company 1824– ? The Crow
Brazeau Houses Braseau's Houses Extreme lower Yellowstone River Richland 1828– ?
Fort Alexander North side of the Yellowstone, six miles west of Forsyth Rosebud American Fur Company 1842–1850 The Crow
Fort Andrew On the Missouri, 30 miles east of James Kipp Recreation Area Phillips American Fur Company 1862– ? Later covered by water
Fort Benton (#1) At the confluence of the Bighorn and the Yellowstone Rivers Treasure Missouri Fur Company 1821– 1824? The Crow
Fort Benton Fort Lewis, Fort Clay At the Upper Missouri, city of Fort Benton Chouteau American Fur Company 1846–1864 The Blackfeet Now a National Historic Landmark
Fort Campbell Near the city of Fort Benton Chouteau Harvey, Primeau & Co. 1846–1861
Fort Cass At the confluence of the Bighorn and the Yellowstone Rivers Treasure American Fur Company 1832–1838 The Crow
Fort Chardon Fort F. A. Chardon At the confluence of the Judith and the Missouri Rivers Chouteau 1843– ?
Fort Charles At the Missouri River, right east of Oswego Valley 1861– ?
Fort Connah Near Post Creek Lake Hudson's Bay Company 1845–1871
Fort Cotton At the upper Missouri, 10 miles southwest of Fort Benton Chouteau Union Fur Company 1843– ? Did not last long
Fort Dauphin At the Missouri River, south of Nashua Valley Louis Dauphin 1860– ?
Fort Galpin At the Missouri River, near the city of Fort Peck Valley LaBarge, Harkness and Company 1862–1864
Fort Hawley At the Missouri River, 30 miles east of James Kipp Recreation Area Phillips Northwest Fur Company 1866– ? Later covered by water
Fort Jackson At the Missouri River, near Poplar Roosevelt American Fur Company 1833– ? Did not last long
Fort Kipp At the Missouri River, near the city of Fort Kipp Roosevelt 1860-1860 Burned by Native Americans
Fort LaBarge At the Missouri River, near the city of Fort Benton Chouteau LaBarge, Harkness and Company 1862– ?
Fort Lewis At the Missouri River, west of the city of Fort Benton Chouteau American Fur Company ? – 1847 Taken apart and rebuilt as part of Fort Benton
Fort McKenzie Fort Brulé At the Missouri River, east of the city of Fort Benton Chouteau American Fur Company 1832–1843 The Blackfeet Burned by Native Americans
Fort Owen Bitterroot Valley, east of Stevensville Ravalli Major John Owen 1850–1872 The Bitterroot Salish Now a state park
Fort Piegan At the confluence of the Marias and the Missouri Rivers Chouteau 1831–1832 The Blackfeet Burned by Native Americans
Fort Poplar At the Missouri River, near Poplar Roosevelt A Charles Larpenteur post 1861– ?
Fort Raymond Fort Remon, Fort Lisa, Fort Manuel Lisa, Big Horn Post At the confluence of the Yellowstone and the Bighorn Rivers Treasure Missouri Fur Company 1807–1813(?) The Crow
Fort Sarpy I On the north side of the Yellowstone, 10 miles east of Forsyth Rosebud American Fur Company 1850–1856 The Crow
Fort Sarpy II At the Yellowstone, 10 miles east of the mouth of the Bighorn River Treasure American Fur Company 1857– c. 1860 The Crow
Fort Stewart At the Missouri River, near the City of Fort Kipp Roosevelt Frost, Todd and Company 1854–1860 Burned by Native Americans
Fort Union At the Missouri River, right east of the Montana – North Dakota border Right east of Roosevelt American Fur Company 1828–1867 The Assiniboine and Cree Now a National Park Service Area
Fort Van Buren Fort Tulloch, Fort Tullock and Tulloch's Fort At the Yellowstone, 10 miles east of Forsyth Rosebud American Fur Company 1835–1842 The Crow
Fox, Livingston and Company Post At the confluence of the Little Bighorn and the Bighorn Rivers Big Horn Fox, Livingston and Company 1843– ? The Crow (Only one source mentions a trading post of this name here)
Henry's Fort Three Forks Post A mile east of Three Forks Gallatin Missouri Fur Company 1810– ?
Howse's Post Howse House North of Kalispell Flathead Hudson's Bay Company 1810– ? The Pend d'Oreilles and Salish
Kootenai Post I At Kootenai River, near Libby Lincoln North West Fur Company 1808– ? The tribes at the upper Columbia
Kootenai Post II Near Libby Dam Lincoln 1811– ?
Salish House I Saleesh House, Flathead Post Near Thompson Falls Sanders North West Fur Company 1809– ?
Salish House II Ten miles east of Thompson Falls Sanders Hudson's Bay Company 1824– ?

Map of Trading Posts

Map with many of the fur trading posts in Montana from 1807 to the early 1870s (approximately)
Map showing many fur trading posts in Montana from 1807 to the early 1870s. The colors on the map show the different Indian territories as described in the first treaties between Native American tribes and the United States.
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