Lower Fort Garry facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Lower Fort Garry
View from outside Lower Fort Garry
Location	5925 Highway 9 St. Andrews, Manitoba, Canada, R1A 4A8
Built	1830
Original use	HBC trading fort
Governing body	Parks Canada
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National Historic Site of Canada
Official name: Lower Fort Garry National Historic Site of Canada
Designated:	31 May 1950

Lower Fort Garry is a historic fort built in 1830 by the Hudson's Bay Company (HBC). It stands on the western bank of the Red River. This location is about 32 kilometers (20 miles) north of the original Fort Garry. That first fort was in what is now Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada. An important agreement called Treaty 1 was signed at Lower Fort Garry.

A big flood in 1826 destroyed the first Fort Garry. This made the HBC's governor, George Simpson, look for a safer spot. He chose the site for Lower Fort Garry because it was on high ground. It was also located below the St. Andrew's Rapids. This meant heavy fur packs and York boats did not need to be carried around the rapids. However, the fort did not become the main centre as planned. Most people lived closer to The Forks and did not want to travel far. So, Upper Fort Garry was rebuilt with stone near the original fort site.

History of Lower Fort Garry

Building the Fort (1830–1850)

The first buildings at Lower Fort Garry were put up in 1830. These included the "fur loft," which was a store and warehouse. There was also the "Big House," where the governor or other important HBC officials lived. Later, a warehouse and a men's house were added.

The fort's famous stone walls were finished in the 1840s. These walls were not for fighting. They were built to make the fort look important and impressive. Many buildings were made from limestone found nearby. The fort also shows examples of special building styles like Red River Frame and Half-timbered construction.

Lower Fort Garry traded some furs, but its main job was to be a supply centre. It provided goods for the Red River settlement and local people. These included the Cree, Anishinaabe, Métis, and European settlers. Furs from other areas were brought to the fort. They were then repacked and sent to England through York Factory. The fort also traded important manufactured goods to farmers and hunters. In return, it received food that was used for company trips to the north.

The walls of Lower Fort Garry were completed in 1848.

Sometimes, military action was needed, and Lower Fort Garry was a good base. In 1846, British soldiers were sent to the fort. This was because of a disagreement with the United States over the border of the Oregon Territory. Some people think the soldiers were also meant to stop local free traders. Trading with anyone other than the HBC was against the rules. By the time the soldiers arrived in 1846, the border issue was mostly settled. The soldiers helped finish building the fort walls, which were done in 1848.

A Busy Centre (1851–1884)

By the 1860s, the fort became an industrial hub. It had a flour mill, a sawmill, a forge, and a brewery. During the Red River Rebellion in 1870, Louis Riel took over Upper Fort Garry. The Quebec Rifles took control of Lower Fort Garry. No battles or fights ever happened at Lower Fort Garry, as it remained a peaceful place.

On August 3, 1871, a very important agreement was made at Lower Fort Garry. This was the first treaty in Western Canada. It was signed between the Canadian government and seven chiefs of the Ojibway (Saulteaux) and Swampy Cree First Nations. This agreement, known as Indian Treaty No. 1, transferred land that is now part of Manitoba. The treaty aimed to allow European settlers to move peacefully onto the prairies. It also aimed to provide First Nations people with land, resources, and other things they needed to survive. Soon after the treaty was signed, both sides had different ideas about what it meant.

Indian Treaty No. 1 is very important. It set a pattern for 10 more treaties in Western Canada. A special plaque outside the Visitor Reception Centre remembers this historic event.

Training for the North-West Mounted Police happened at the fort in the winter of 1873–1874. Many of these police members had been at the fort before during the 1870 rebellion. This included Inspector James F. MacLeod. The first group of Mounties arrived at Lower Fort Garry on October 22, 1873. On November 3, they officially started their training. They spent the cold winter practicing drills and learning to ride horses. The parade ground was frozen solid, making it tough if someone fell off their horse. By June, they were ready to meet Commissioner G.A. French and other groups at Fort Dufferin. The fort was then given back to the Canadian Militia.

Modern Times (1885–Present)

Between May and September, the Fort is used as a living museum, with re-enactors recreating life in the 1850s.

Over the years, the fort has been used for many things. It was a prison for a while. It also served as a mental hospital from 1885 to 1886. One person who stayed there was Honoré Jaxon, who was Louis Riel's secretary during the North-West Rebellion. Later, it became an HBC home and even a golf course and motor club from 1911 to 1963.

The Hudson's Bay Company owned the fort until 1951. Then, it was given to the Canadian government. In 1958, the site was named a National Historic Site. In 2011, Canada's History magazine called it one of the top 10 National Historic Sites in the country.

Today, from May to September, you can visit Lower Fort Garry. People in costumes act out what life was like in the early 1850s. This was when Eden Colvile was the HBC's governor and lived at the fort. You can see original buildings and walls. There are also hands-on activities and furniture from that time. All of this helps visitors experience history.

See also

• List of forts