Fort Union (Williston, North Dakota, North Dakota)
Williston, North Dakota · North Dakota · Fur Trade Era
History & Significance
In 1828, the Assiniboine Indians requested that John Jacob Astor's American Fur Company establish a trading post in their homeland to protect them from hostile tribes, and Kenneth McKenzie founded Fort Union. Strategically located near the homelands of 10 Northern Plains tribes, Fort Union was the most important trading post of the Upper Missouri fur trade until smallpox decimated the population of numerous Plains tribes.
The Assiniboine and six other Northern Plains Indian Tribes exchanged buffalo robes and smaller furs for goods from around the world, including cloth, guns, blankets, and beads, and the post annually traded over 25,000 buffalo robes and $100,000 in merchandise. The peaceful Northern Plains tribes traded their renowned buffalo robes, which were becoming a highly sought after commodity at the time of Fort Union's establishment, and by the 1830s, the demand for beaver pelts began to decline, as silk hats were preferred over beaver hats, and the demand for tanned buffalo robes increased.
The establishment of a distillery nearly resulted in the loss of the American Fur Company's license, and in 1833 the government ordered the American Fur Company to destroy the distillery. The fort's historic significance merited its designation as a National Historic Landmark in 1961, and beginning in 1985, guided by archaeological excavations and careful research, the post's buildings were rebuilt atop the footprints of the original buildings.
Key Facts
Map
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🧳 Visiting
What you’ll see when you visit:
- Reconstructed fur trading post with original architecture and trade goods
- Archaeological artifacts and period exhibits on Missouri River fur commerce
- Historic exchange point between Native American tribes and Euro-American traders
- View of upper Missouri River valley from the fort's strategic location
Sources
- https://www.nps.gov/articles/ftutrading.htm
- https://www.ndtourism.com/williston/attractions-entertainment/family-fun/fort-union-trading-post-national-historic-site
- https://historicmt.org/items/show/3242
- https://www.nps.gov/places/fort-union-trading-post-national-historic-site.htm
- https://www.legendsofamerica.com/nd-fortunion/
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fort_Union_Trading_Post_National_Historic_Site
- https://www.nps.gov/articles/fort-union-updating-a-venerable-national-historic-landmark.htm
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