Manitoba Forts

Canadian Forts

MANITOBA

Last Update: 20/SEPTEMBER/2025

Berens River Posts
(1813 - 1940), Berens River
A small Hudson's Bay Co. post (Berens River House) (HBC records begin 1815) located at the mouth of the Berens River at Lake Winnipeg. Relocated in 1824. Named after Joseph Berens, HBC Governor from 1812 to 1822.

A North West Co. post was also located nearby (1814 ?).

In the winter of 1814, Berens River was established at the mouth of the Berens River on Lake Winnipeg by men sent from Jack River. It was named after Joseph Berens, HBC governor from 1812-1822. Two years later the post was moved to a lake up river from Lake Winnipeg, where Donald Sutherland erected a house on the site of a house built by Albany River traders. From 1821 to 1823, the stores at Berens River were removed to Pigeon River and Berens River served as an outpost for Pigeon River. In the fall of 1824 Berens River became a full post again, located on the right bank of Berens River at its mouth, on the east side of Lake Winnipeg. During Outfit 1833-1834 Berens River operated the outpost at Sandy Narrows (Ontario). In 1842 a new warehouse was built to handle inland supplies for the Norway House District. Besides being a trans-shipment point, Berens River also was used to protect the business at Little Grand Rapids, situated about 90 miles up the river.

Berens River operated an outpost at Poplar River (2) in the 1930's. Berens River continued to function as a fur trade post until 1959, when it became a Northern Store. It continued to operate as such until 1987, when the stores were sold to the Hudson's Bay Northern Stores (later called North West Company).

Pigeon River Post
(1812 - 1824 ?), Pigeon River
A Hudson's Bay Co. post located at the mouth of the Pigeon River at Lake Winnipeg.

Pakwa Lake Post
(unknown dates), Pakwa Lake
A North West Co. post located along the North Etomami River.

Long Lake Post
(unknown dates),
A Hudson's Bay Co. post located on the Berens River.

Grand Rapids Posts (2)
(1865 - 1941), Little Grand Rapids
A Hudson's Bay Co. post located at the "grand rapids" of the Berens River, near the north end of Family Lake. Possibly rebuilt or relocated in 1848. This was a subpost of Berens River House. Later known as Little Grand Rapids Post after 1888.

A North West Co. post was located nearby (date ?).

In 1865 Grand Rapids (2) post was established by William McKay as an outpost of Berens River. It was located at the north end of Family Lake at the Berens River outlet. The name "Grand Rapids" reflected the rapids at the site which headed north into Fishing Lake. Until 1871 supplies arrived at the post from York Factory via the Berens River. After that date they came from Winnipeg by steamer up Lake Winnipeg and then by canoe down the river. In 1888 Little Grand Rapids became a full post. That same year the word "Little" was added to its name in order to avoid confusion with the Grand Rapids post (1) on the west side of Lake Winnipeg. In 1921 the last York boat was used to transport goods between Berens River and Little Grand Rapids. In the early twentieth century, Little Grand Rapids operated outposts at Pikangikum, Deer Lake (2) (both in Ontario), and Poplar River (2) (Manitoba).

In 1941 the HBC buildings at Little Grand Rapids were destroyed by fire caused by lightening. They were rebuilt at a new site half a mile to the east, across the channel connecting Family and Trading Lakes. In 1959 the operations at Little Grand Rapids were transferred to the Northern Stores Department. It operated as such until 1987, when the stores were sold to the Hudson's Bay Northern Stores (later called North West Company).

Great Falls Posts
(1802 - 1805, 1816 - 1821), Fishing Lake
A Hudson's Bay Co. post located at the "great falls" of the Berens River, close to the Ontario border. Also known as Big Falls Post. Replaced by the Grand Rapids Post (above).

A North West Co. post was located nearby (date ?).

Between 1801 and 1805, a wintering post called Big Falls or Great Falls was in operation at the site of Little Grand Rapids. This post formed part of the Lake Sanderson area posts operated from Osnaburgh House (Ontario). It was rebuilt/relocated and again in operation at least between 1816 and 1821 under the name "Grand Rapids, Berens River" (see above).

Albany House
(1830 ? - 1860 ?), near Family Lake ?
A small Hudson's Bay Co. outpost of Berens River House. Location undetermined, possibly on Family Lake, or perhaps on Dogskin Lake to the south, along the Ontario border.

Blood River Post
(1794 - 1795), Bloodvein
A Hudson's Bay Co. post located at the mouth of the Bloodvein River at Lake Winnipeg. Also known as Bloodvein River Post.

Blood River was established in the fall of 1794 on the east side of Lake Winnipeg near the narrows. It was established by John Best while on a journey from Red Lake to Lake Winnipeg. It only operated for one outfit year and was abandoned in June 1795.

Sasaginnigak Lake Post
(Atikaki Provincial Wilderness Park)
(1812 - unknown), Sasaginnigak Lake
A Hudson's Bay Co. post located near the Bloodvein River.

Bad Lake Posts
(Atikaki Provincial Wilderness Park)
(1805 - 1806), Knox Lake
A Hudson's Bay Co. post located near the Ontario border, probably on the Gammon River. Apparently relocated from the 1792 post on the Ontario side of the border (see also).

An independent British trade post was also located here (date ?).

Bad Lake was established by William Corrigal in September 1805 near the headwaters of the Bloodvein River on what is now the Manitoba/Ontario border. That winter John Haldane of the neighbouring North West Company post robbed Bad Lake of all its furs. Bad Lake was abandoned at the end of Outfit 1805-1806.

Winnipeg Lake Post
(1793 - 1797), near Hollow Water ?
A Hudson's Bay Co. post. Also known as Mainwaring River Post (according to HBC Archives).

Winnipeg Lake was established in 1793 possibly at the mouth of the Mainwaring River. At first it functioned as a fur store house. In September 1796 Edward Clouston from Osnaburgh House established a post here. He left the post the following May. When Clouston returned to Winnipeg Lake in September 1797, he found the house burned down. The business at Winnipeg Lake was not re-established.

Bad Throat Post
(1888 - 1893), near Manigotagen
A Hudson's Bay Co. post located on Lake Winnipeg.

Bad Throat Post was established by at least 1887 as an outpost for Fort Alexander. It was located on the Bad Throat River at the outlet to Lake Winnipeg at what is now present-day Manigotagan, Manitoba. It was in operation until at least 1893, although the exact date that it was abandoned is unclear.

Turtle Lake Post
(1801 - 1802, 1889), near Bissett ?
A Hudson's Bay Co. post near the Ontario border.

Turtle Lake was established in October 1801 by Thomas Vincent. The post was located on the Wanipigow River at Turtle Lake near the present-day border between Manitoba and Ontario. It most likely was closed in June 1802. It was in operation again in 1889. It is unclear when it closed for good.

Eagle Nest Post
(Whiteshell Provincial Park)
(1857 - 1872, 1873 - 1876, 1890 - 1902 ?), Eagle Nest Lake
A Hudson's Bay Co. post located on Eagle Nest Lake on the Winnipeg River near the Ontario border. It was a subpost of White Dog Post in Ontario.

Eagle Nest was established around 1857 on Eagle Nest Lake along the Manitoba - Ontario boundary. It was abandoned in 1872. The next year Eagle Nest was re-established in order to oppose petty traders in the area. However, by May 1876, the HBC once again closed it in favour of a new post at White Dog (Ontario) since most of the local Aboriginal traders were taking their business to Fort Alexander or White Dog. Eagle Nest was in operation once again by 1890 as an outpost of White Dog. It is unclear when it closed.

Lac du Bonnet Posts
(1807 - 1808), near Great Falls
Originally a North West Co. wintering post at Lac du Bonnet ("Indian Cap Lake").

A Hudson's Bay Co. post (Indian Cap Fort) was established by 1822 (the same post ?), and later operated from 1856 to 1871 as a winter post.

Lac du Bonnet was in operation as a winter post during Outfit 1807-1808. Between 1856 and 1871 it again operated as a winter post.

In November 1953 the HBC opened a store in the town of Lac du Bonnet. In 1959 it became a Northern Store. It operated as such until 1987, when the stores were sold to the Hudson's Bay Northern Stores (later called North West Company).

Fort Maurepas (2)
(1737 - 1760 ?), near Fort Alexander
This French trade fort was located on the north bank of the Winnipeg River at what was later termed "Pointe au Foutre", within the present-day Fort Alexander Indian Reserve. It was located about 11 km (six miles) upstream from the site of the later North West Co. post (see below). It was probably abandoned from 1739 - 1742. It had burned down in 1747 after an Indian attack, was rebuilt in 1748, and burned down again in 1763, although it was probably already abandoned by then. A 1931 stone cairn marks the site.

Fort Bas-de-la-Rivière
(1792 - 1821), Fort Alexander
A North West Co. post, also known as Winnipeg House, or (Toussaint) LeSieur's Fort, originally located on the south bank of the Winnepeg River at Otter Point, about 11 km (six miles) downstream from the old French Fort Maurepas (2) site. Rebuilt in 1807. Taken over by the HBC in 1822 and renamed Fort Alexander (see below).

An XY Company post was also briefly located here in 1800, abandoned before the following winter.

Fort Alexander
(1793 - 1801 ?, 1822 - 1860/1940), Fort Alexander
Built by the Hudson's Bay Co. to counter the North West Co.'s Fort Bas-de-la-Rivière that was nearby (HBC records begin 1795). Originally located upriver near the site of the earlier Fort Maurepas (2), and known as Pointe au Foutre House. Palisaded for defence in 1796. Relocated downstream in 1798 adjacent to the NWC post. Probably abandoned in 1801, at least for a short while (?).

The HBC returned in 1822 and took over the NWC's Fort Bas-de-la-Rivière, which was renamed. Probably rebuilt in 1857. It was garrisoned by the Canadian Militia in 1870 during the Red River Rebellion, possibly renamed Fort Louisa. A model of the 1857 fort is at the Sakeeng Museum in nearby Pine Falls.

Fort Alexander was established by the Hudson's Bay Company in 1793 near the mouth of the Winnipeg River. It served as a provision post designed to keep an eye on Fort Bas de la Rivière, the nearby North West Company post which had been established a year earlier by Toussaint LeSieur. The NWCo. post was an important transfer point on the NWCo. freighting route from Fort William (Ontario) to the West. For the HBC, Fort Alexander also served as an important shipping point. It was outfitted from Fort Albany via Martin's Falls (both in Ontario).

Until the amalgamation of the HBC and NWCo. in 1821, the two companies operated their respective posts in close proximity to each other. In 1822 the HBC built a new fort on the site. That year Fort Alexander became the headquarters for the newly established Winnipeg River District. It acted as headquarters until 1832, at which time it was transferred to the Lac la Pluie District. Fort Alexander served as headquarters for this district during 1843-1844 and again from 1853-1876. Fort Alexander also operated a successful livestock and produce farm. Starting in the 1860's Fort Alexander was supplied from the Red River Settlement. In the late 1880's Fort Alexander operated Bad Throat Post as an outpost. Fort Alexander was closed in 1940.

Broken Head River Post
(1870's/1880's ?), near Scanterbury ?
A Hudson's Bay Co. outpost of Lower Fort Garry, located on the Broken Head River. Possibly located at the Brokenhead Ojibway Nation Reserve No. 4 (?).

Rivière-aux-Morts Posts
(1803 - 1821), near Selkirk
A North West Co. post located on the Red River at Netley Creek, north of Selkirk, about six miles up from Lake Winnipeg. The name of the river is said to have come from the massacre of a Cree hunting party by the Sioux in 1780.

A Hudson's Bay Co. post was located here in 1816.

Fort Maurepas (1)
(1734 - 1737), near Selkirk
A French post located on the west bank of the Red River about six miles north of town, on a point that commanded a distant view. It was burned by Indians in 1737, then relocated to the mouth of the Winnipeg River near Fort Alexander.

Joseph Frobisher's Post
(1770 - 1771), near Selkirk
A trader's wintering post, located on the Red River above Netley Creek and below the St. Andrew's rapids. John McDonell later camped here in September 1793.

Red River House (2)
(1812 - 1813), near Selkirk
A Hudson's Bay Co. post located near the mouth of the Red River delta at Lake Winnipeg. Also known as Fort William.

Fort William was established in 1812 at the mouth of the Red River on Lake Winnipeg. It was built by William Hillier and served as the East Winnipeg Factory (2) in the East Winnipeg Factory District. In May 1813 Fort William was abandoned in favour of building a house instead at the forks of the Red and Assiniboine Rivers.

NOTE: The East Winnipeg Factory District was created in 1811 with the split of the Winnipeg Factory District into East and West districts. It is not known where the first East Winnipeg Factory District headquarters was located in 1811-12, nor the third site in 1813-14, before the district was abolished in 1814 (possibly at Winnipeg and/or Pembina (ND) ?). The final East Winnipeg District Annual Report, written in 1815, was likely written at Berens River, according to the HBC Archives.

Colvile Landing Post
(1882 - 1883), near East Selkirk
A Hudson's Bay Co. post.

Colvile Landing was established around 1881 as a landing spot for HBC steamers travelling along the Red River to Lake Winnipeg. It was located on a creek south of Lower Fort Garry on the east side of the Red River. This locale was chosen for its proximity to the Canadian Pacific Railway line then being built to East Selkirk. Colvile Landing was likely closed in 1884.

Lower Fort Garry (2) (National Historic Site)
(1826 - 1911), near Selkirk
A Hudson's Bay Co. post located on the Red River just south of town, below the St. Andrews rapids near Little Britain, about 19 miles from Upper Fort Garry (3). Rebuilt in 1831 (HBC records begin 1854), and strengthened in 1841. Also known as the Stone Fort. British troops were garrisoned here in 1846 - 1848 (the "Oregon Crisis") to counter possible American expansion from the south. The stone-built Southwest Bastion was built during this time. The fort was garrisoned by the Canadian Militia (Québec Rifles) in 1870 - 1871 during the Red River Rebellion. The North West Mounted Police were garrisoned here in the winter of 1873-74 (October-June) for training prior to assembling at Fort Dufferin for the journey west into present-day Saskatchewan and Alberta. The "Stone Fort Treaty" (Indian Treaty No. 1) was signed here in August 1871. From 1913-1962 the fort was leased to the Motor Country Club. The Hudson’s Bay Company donated the complex and its associated land to Parks Canada in 1951, and since then (1965-1982) many of its structures have been restored and interpreted to the 1850-1860 period. Extant structures include the Men's House and the Big House. Admission fee.

Lower Fort Garry commenced operations in 1832 on a site selected by Governor George Simpson three years prior. The construction of its buildings began in 1831 and was completed 1839. Between 1839 and 1846 the limestone walls and corner bastions were built. Lower Fort Garry was located 20 miles north of the forks of the Red and Assiniboine Rivers. Lower Fort Garry was established to replace Fort Garry as headquarters of the Red River District; the upper fort had suffered damage in the 1826 flood and was not repaired. Governor George Simpson made Lower Fort Garry his residence and headquarters in 1832. In 1834 he moved his operations to Lachine (Québec). In 1837 Fort Garry was rebuilt (as Upper Fort Garry) and once again became the headquarters of the Red River District. Lower Fort Garry remained an important rendezvous point for York boats and canoe brigades and served as the southern supply depot along the Lake Winnipeg trans-shipment route. Its agricultural operations also made it a centre for HBC food production and its store supplied the Red River Settlement.

During the nineteenth century, Lower Fort Garry played a role in other important events. Between 1846 and 1848 it housed British troops brought to the west to deal with the Oregon boundary dispute. It also housed troops during the 1869 Métis rebellion, and from 1873 to 1874 it quartered and trained the first units of the Northwest Mounted Police. In 1871 the first treaty between the Canadian government and Aboriginal groups was signed just outside the walls of the fort. Lower Fort Garry served other purposes including Manitoba's first penitentiary (1871-1877) and insane asylum (1884-1886). From 1891 to 1911 it was the summer residence for Chief Commissioner Clarence Chipman. Lower Fort Garry also operated a number of outposts between 1867 and 1888, including Grassy Narrows, Doghead, Fisher River, and Broken Head River. Beginning in 1893 Lower Fort Garry operated as a saleshop. In November 1911 it closed. In 1951 the HBC donated the property to the Canadian government. The company had leased the property to the Manitoba Motor Country Club since 1913. In 1962 Lower Fort Garry was turned over to the Canadian government and became a National Historic Site.

Fort Gibraltar
(The Forks National Historic Site)
(Forts Rouge, Garry, and Gibraltar National Historic Site)
(1807 - 1821, 1822 - 1826), Winnipeg
A North West Co. stockaded post with eight houses. Rebuilt in 1810 after a flood, and again in early 1817 after being destroyed (burned) by HBC-allied Red River settlers in March 1816. It was no longer a palisaded post after this time, but simply a collection of simple log huts and storehouses. Taken over and substantially rebuilt again (on a new site just westward of original fort) by the Hudson's Bay Co. in 1822, renamed Fort Garry (1) in 1823, although the previous name was also still used by some traders. Destroyed by a flood in 1826, then relocated to Selkirk (see above). There was some rebuilding here however, and the site remained in use by the HBC until 1835, principally as the HBC Assiniboia District Governor's residence. What remained of the HBC post was finally pulled down in 1852 after yet another flood. No remains, exact site has been eroded away. A reconstruction of Fort Gibraltar was built in 1978 in the St. Boniface - North community, on the east side of the Red River, in Whittier Park at 866 St. Joseph Street (across the Red River from Point Douglas).

First located here in the vicinity was the French military post Fort Rouge (aka Fort la Fourche des Assiniboines) (1738 - 1749, intermittant), possibly located at South Point Park (according to tradition), but more likely actually located on the north bank of the Assiniboine River. It was a palisaded log fort used mainly as a seasonal supply depot for various expeditions upriver. See also La Vérendrye Manitoba Heritage Council historic marker

French trader Jacques Legardeur de St. Pierre built a small wintering post (St. Pierre's Post) here in 1752 - 1753.

An independent British trade/wintering post (Bruce and Boyer's Post) was located here in 1780 - 1781.

According to the HBC Archives, a Red River Post (1) (1797 - 1801), operated by Thomas Millar, was located at the Forks of the Red and Assiniboine Rivers, and was relocated in 1799 to a site on the Red River above the Forks.

Alexander Henry the Younger also built a small post (Henry's Post) for the North West Co. here in 1803 - 1804, operated by Louis Dorion. It lasted only one season.

The Hudson's Bay Co. established a post/supply depot on the east side of the Red River in present-day Saint-Boniface - Central, across from South Point, begun before Lord Selkirk's first and second group of Red River colonists arrived in August and October 1812. This is where the Red River colonists encamped before construction on the Colony Fort (Fort Douglas) was commenced in August and the nearby Colony Gardens established. The structures here were then rafted over to the latter site before the winter. Site located near the modern St. Boniface Hospital, below the Norwood Bridge (TCH 1), near Tache Ave. and Dollard Blvd..

Peter Fidler's Fort
(1817 - 1821), Winnipeg
A Hudson's Bay Co. palisaded post on the west side of the Red River, distinct from Fort Douglas and Fort Gibraltar/Garry (1). One remaining structure was reportedly used as a barn or stable by the HBC after 1821, until destroyed by a flood in 1826. Site located at about present-day Pioneer Ave. and Waterfront Drive, or near the Shaw Park Baseball Stadium. It was just north of Fort Gibraltar/Garry (1), about 200 or 300 yards, and was about one mile south of Fort Douglas.

Fort Douglas
(1812 - 1822/1826), Winnipeg
This was the first and main site of the Red River (Selkirk) Colony, the first permanent white settlement in the province, sponsored by the Hudson's Bay Company. Construction was begun between August to October 1812 with the first and second waves of settlers brought over from Scotland, but was left unfinished before most of the colonists went to the Pembina settlement (in present-day Minnesota) to spend the winter months. Construction was resumed in May 1813. Originally known simply as the Colony Fort (or Fort Selkirk according to one past historian), located at the foot of Point Douglas, just downriver (north), about one mile, from the NWCo.'s Fort Gibraltar. The settlers were harassed and attacked by Métis/Nor'westers throughout the fall/winter of 1814-15, and the fort was pulled down and burned by them in June 1815. The fort was rebuilt about 100 yards from the first post during the fall and winter of 1815-16, formally named in November 1815 after the arrival of the fourth wave of settlers. It was again captured by the Métis under Cuthbert Grant in June 1816, soon after the Battle of Seven Oaks, and was not taken back by the HBC until January 1817. After the first Fort Garry was built at the Forks in 1822, the post became the residence of the Red River Colony's governor. Destroyed by a flood in 1826. Still in ruins, the site was sold by the HBC to civilian Robert Logan in 1835, who occupied the remaining buildings until 1854. A stone monument was erected in 1925 at William Whyte Park (est. 1909) at 180 Higgins Ave. (at corner of Maple Street), adjacent to the Winnipeg Fire Hall #3 (1904) / Winnipeg Fire-fighters Museum (56 Maple St.). Also commemorated by the Scots Monument (1992) in Fort Douglas Park along the riverfront (on Waterfront Drive at George Ave.).
See also The Lord Selkirk Settlement at Red River from the Manitoba Historical Society
See also Battle of Seven Oaks (NHS) (June 1816) from Canadian Register of Historic Places
(see also NORTH DAKOTA page for additional Red River Colony sites)

Upper Fort Garry (3)
(The Forks National Historic Site)
(1836 - 1882), Winnipeg
The Hudson's Bay Co. decided in 1835 that a post at "the Forks" should be retained as this was still a major trading location. A new post was built just west of the original Fort Garry (1) site, on Fort Street between Broadway and Assiniboine Ave., on the west side of the present-day Union Station (1911). Stone walls and four round bastions were built, covering about 280 feet by 240 feet. British troops were garrisoned here in 1846 - 1848 (the "Oregon Crisis") to counter possible American expansion from the south. The civilian settlement was nearly destroyed by a flood in 1852. The fort was expanded in 1853-54, when the new North Gate (aka Governor's Gate) was constructed on the north side. The new walls of the northern extension were made of logs and timber with earth fill, but the gate was constructed of stone. In 1870 the post briefly became the first headquarters for the newly created District of Assiniboia, Northwest Territories, but the Métis under Louis Riel occupied it during the 1870 Red River Rebellion as their headquarters for the "Provisional Government of Manitoba", and afterward it was garrisoned by the Canadian Militia (Québec Rifles) until 1871. This rebellion led to the admittance of Manitoba as a province of Canada in July 1870. The city of Winnipeg later grew around the fort, and many now historic buildings' foundations were built upon the fort's original stones. Most structures were demolished by 1880, but the Governor's House remained in use until 1883. The last four remaining houses were sold at auction in 1888. The site was deeded to the city in 1882. Main Street (TCH 1) was soon thereafter expanded through the east side and southeast corner of the site. Today only the north gate is all that remains above ground. The original site has been preserved as a provincial heritage park, which opened in August 2015. See also Troops at Upper Fort Garry || History of the HBC's Winnipeg Store from HBC Heritage
See also A Short Pictorial History on Upper Fort Garry from Lincoln Park Gallery
See also Silver Heights Manitoba Heritage Council historic marker

Fort Garry was established by the Hudson's Bay Company in around 1820. The fort was built at the site of Fort Gibraltar, a former NWC post, at the forks of the Red and Assiniboine Rivers. It served as the headquarters of the Red River Settlement and District. The 1826 flood severely damaged Fort Garry. Instead of repairing the fort, Governor George Simpson decided to build Lower Fort Garry, 20 miles north, to supercede the original fort as headquarters of the Red River District. In 1835 construction of a new Upper Fort Garry begun, a little removed from the site of the original fort which had most of the land around it washed away during the flood. The upper fort once again was made the district headquarters. In 1850 the walls were extended northward and the gateway erected. In 1852 the remaining remmants of the first fort were demolished and cleared away. Upper Fort Garry was closed and sold in 1882, and all but its gateway was demolished. In 1897 the HBC presented the site to the city of Winnipeg.

Fort Osborne (1)
(1873 - 1919), Winnipeg
A Canadian Army post and barracks located about 0.75 mile west of Upper Fort Garry. A Permanent Force of about 300 men, including an artillery detachment, were garrisoned here until withdrawn in 1877. Thereafter used by the provincial militia until World War One when the post became a military hospital. Site located on the grounds of the present Provincial Legislative Building (built 1912). A new Osborne Barracks (2) was constructed in 1919 at the former site of the Manitoba Agricultural College (1905 - 1913) and later the Manitoba School for the Deaf (1914 - 1917), on Tuxedo Ave., until replaced by Kapyong Barracks in 1968.

St. Norbert Barrier
(St. Norbert Provincial Heritage Park)
(1869 - 1870), Winnipeg
The Métis erected a strong barrier here near the Red River ferry to prevent Federal government officials and the Canadian Militia from advancing from the south towards the "Forks" and Upper Fort Garry. Several houses from the original settlement of St. Norbert have been preserved in the provincial park, located on the La Salle River at the southern limits of the city. The nearby municipal Le Barrière Park also commemorates the event.

Mire River Post
(1794), Winnipeg
A North West Co. post located at or near the mouth of the La Salle River, at the present-day southern limits of the city.

Fort Whyte
(1888), Winnipeg
A former townsite that developed in reference to barricades erected during an armed, yet bloodless, conflict in 1888 between employees of the Canadian Pacific Railroad, led by William Whyte, and workers of a rival railroad wanting a right-of-way through this section of the city, about six miles southwest of the city centre. The Canadian Supreme Court ruled in favour of the rival company, ending the CPR's monopoly.

Fort Richmond
(no date), Winnipeg
A neighbourhood in south-central Winnipeg that was developed beginning in the 1960's. The name of the subdivision was taken from a proposal to develop the area first made by a real estate firm in 1911. The area was first identified as Richmond Park; the name was altered slightly in the 1960's — replacing Park with Fort — to set the development apart from the already prolific use of the name Park in Winnipeg's established subdivisions. Because of the proximity to the University of Manitoba campus, the streets adopted names of other familiar, or well-known universities. Fort Richmond evolved in the mid-1960's as a joint development between the municipality of Fort Garry and Ladco Company Limited to develop over 800 acres of land in Winnipeg’s south end. At the time of construction it was considered to be a fully integrated community stretching south from the University of Manitoba campus to Winnipeg’s Perimeter Highway.

White Horse Plains House
(1810 ? - 1880 ?), near Headingley
A Hudson's Bay Co. post located on the north bank of the Assiniboine River, about 12 miles west of Winnipeg.

An independent British trade post (Blondish's Fort) was previously located here on the north bank of the Assiniboine River, built in 1793.

Ste. Anne Post
(1874 - 1880), Ste. Anne
In 1874 the HBC opened a fur trade post in Ste. Anne, located 30 miles east of Fort Garry. In 1871 a post office had been opened in the community, then known as Pointe du Chêne ("Oak Point"). In 1880 the Ste. Anne post was closed.

Rat River Post (2)
(1821), near Ste. Agathe
A North West Co. post was briefly located at the mouth of the Rat River before the HBC took over the company.

Scratching River Posts
(1801), Morris
The XY Company first built a trade post here, soon followed by the North West Company. The Morris River was originally known as the Scratching River (Rivière aux Gratias). The town was not settled until 1874. See also Town of Morris Manitoba Heritage Council historic marker.

Fort de la Fourche aux Roseaux
(1734 - 1737 ?), near Letellier
A French fort located on the Red River, possibly at the mouth of the Roseau River.

Roseau River Post
(1800), near Letellier
A North West Co. post located on the Red River on the north side of the mouth of the Roseau River.

Fort Dufferin (National Historic Site)
(1872 - 1875), Emerson
Originally established and named Camp Dufferin by the Royal Engineers of the British North America Boundary Commission as its headquarters camp, located on the west bank of the Red River. During 1873 it became a North West Mounted Police command post and winter staging area prior to the "Great March" west into present-day Saskatchewan in the summer of 1874. Last used as barracks during the winter of 1874-75. The buildings were later used to house immigrant Mennonite settlers until they could move onto their homesteads in the nearby West Reserve. In the mid 1880's it was used as a quarantine station for livestock imported through the customs station. Some buildings and gravesites still remain. The site is now a memorial to the NWMP. A memorial cairn was erected by the Historic Sites and Monument Board of Canada in 1949. In 1995 the RCMP dedicated a statue to commemorate the NWMP's trek west, located in front of the Tourist Information Building on Highway 75. The town was settled in 1874. See also Manitoba Historical Society || Emerson Historical Tour from the Manitoba Historical Society

The Canadian Militia had posted a garrison here at the border in 1870 - 1871 during the Red River Rebellion, and also during the Fenian raid of October 1871.

West Lynne Post
(1876 - 1889), Emerson
A Hudson's Bay Co. post located on the west bank of the Red River, just north of the international border. Originally known as North Pembina Post before 1881, when the town was renamed West Lynne. The town then became part of Emerson in 1883. See also Pembina - Emerson Area Manitoba Heritage Council historic marker

West Lynne was established as a saleshop in 1876, located on the west side of the Red River across the 49th Parallel from the HBC post at Pembina (North Dakota). In 1880 a new store was built in order to accommodate the growing population of settlers in southern Manitoba. West Lynne also operated a granary. In 1882 the small settlement at West Lynne was incorporated into a town. The following year, it was amalgamated into the town of Emerson, located just across the Red River. In 1890 the HBC saleshop was closed.

Fort Pinancewaywining
(1802 - 1808 ?), Morden
A North West Company post established by Alexander Henry the Younger, operated by Augustine Cadotte and Antoine Payette. A signpost and stone monument (1983) is located on Thornhill Street.

Morden Post
(1887 - 1900), Morden
A Hudson's Bay Co. post. The town was first settled in 1882.

In 1887 the HBC established a post and saleshop in the Morden townsite, located at Lot 18 Block 25. It was in operation until at least 1900.

Pembina River House
(1800 - 1805 ?), near Windygates and Maida, North Dakota
Also called Pembina Mountain Post and Hair Hills Post. It was established by the North West Company as a fur trade post, but it became known for its vegetable gardens. The post was relocated each season, which fluctuated around the later established U.S. - Canada border. (see also NORTH DAKOTA page)

Manitou Post
(1891 - 1895), Manitou
A Hudson's Bay Co. post.

In 1890 the HBC built a store, warehouse, and stable in the townsite of Manitou on lots 4 and 5, block 116. The Manitou store was in operation until sometime after 1895.

Oak Point Post
(1862 - 1889), Oak Point
A Hudson's Bay Co. post on the southeast shore of Lake Manitoba.

Oak Point was established in 1862 as an outpost of Manitoba House. It was located on the east side of Lake Manitoba, situated at the current townsite of the same name. By 1867 Oak Point became a full post. From 1875 to 1880 it served as the headquarters of the Manitoba District. In 1885 most of the business of the post was transferred to St. Laurent due to poor returns. In June 1889 Oak Point was closed.

St. Ambroise Dakota Entrenchments (Provincial Heritage Site)
(1864), near St. Ambroise
Remnants of a fortified Dakota (Sioux) Indian refugee camp from the Sioux Uprising in Minnesota. It provided protection against the Red Lake Chippewan Indians.

Flee Island Dakota Entrenchments (Provincial Heritage Site)
(1864), near High Bluff
Remnants of a fortified Dakota (Sioux) Indian refugee camp from the Sioux Uprising in Minnesota, located on Flee Island. It provided protection against the Red Lake Chippewan Indians. Historic marker located north of town, just west of the junction of Roads 526 and 227.

Poplar Point Post
(1869 - 1871, 1874 - 1883, 1900 - 1911), Poplar Point
A Hudson's Bay Co. post.

Poplar Point was established in 1869. It was located on a point on Lake Winnipeg just south of Poplar River. Poplar Point operated in the winters until 1871 when it was closed. In 1874 it was reopened with a salesman placed in charge. It closed again in 1883. Between 1900 and 1911 Poplar Point operated a camp trade. It likely was closed after this time.

Lane's Post
(1850's), near Poplar Point ?
An independent trade post located on the Assiniboine River 18 miles east of Portage la Prairie.

Jacques Adhemar's Fort
(1780's ?), near High Bluff
A North West Co. post located on the Assiniboine River about six miles east of Portage la Prairie.

Fort la Reine (1)
(Canadian Register Of Historic Places)
(1738 - 1754), Portage la Prairie
A French trade post established by Pierre Gaultier de La Vérendrye. Abandoned in 1749, then burned by Indians shortly thereafter, it was rebuilt in 1751 by Jacques Legardeur de St. Pierre, with bastions and several adjoining buildings. It was again burned by Indians in 1752, and rebuilt yet again before it was abandoned for good. A 1929 memorial cairn is located on the Assiniboine River southwest of the city limits, just below the dam for the Portage Diversion Canal, near the junction of Highway 1 and the Yellowquill Trail (180 Yellowquill Trail), adjacent to the City of Portage la Prairie Water Treatment Plant.

Portage la Prairie Posts
(1794 - 1821, 1832 - 1834, 1857 - 1870), Portage la Prairie
A North West Co. post on the Assiniboine River at the Meadow Portage (aka Plain or Savanna Portage). Probably known by the same name as the earlier French fort (Fort la Reine (2) ?), or possibly as Meadow Portage Fort (1798). A modern reconstruction of a fur trade fort is located at the Fort la Reine Museum and Pioneer Village (admission fee), located just east of town at the junction of Highways 1A and 26, on Saskatchewan Ave. East.

A Hudson's Bay Co. post was also located nearby in 1796, operated until 1870 (HBC records cover 1833 - 1891). It was enlarged in September 1813. Possibly located at or near the site of the former French Fort la Reine.

Portage la Prairie was established in 1794, located on the Assiniboine River south of Lake Manitoba. It was five miles below the site of the HBC's Poplar House at the south end of Meadow Portage to Lake Manitoba. The site was close to Fort la Reine, an important post for the North West Company which was originally founded by LaVerendrye in 1738. Portage la Prairie functioned as a carrying place from the Assiniboine River to Lake Manitoba.

The HBC operated at Portage la Prairie until around 1821, the time of the amalgamation of the company with the North West Company. In 1832 Portage la Prairie was re-established to replace Brandon House. It acted as a guard house to monitor the trade of Saulteaux hunters from the Pembina and Turtle Mountain areas. By 1834 Portage la Prairie appears to have been closed. In 1857 the post opened once again. In the later part of the nineteenth century, Portage la Prairie also operated as a saleshop. In January 1913 the saleshop was destroyed by a fire and the HBC business at Portage la Prairie was abandoned.

Fort des Trembles
(1767 - unknown), near Portage la Prairie
An independent British trade post located on the Assiniboine River just west of town, a few miles above the portage place. Also known as Fort aux Trembles.

A North West Co. post (Poplar House (1)) was later here on the south bank, but abandoned in the autumn of 1781 after three defenders were killed by Indians. Also known as Fort des Prairies.

The HBC also had a Poplar House (2) in the vicinity (date ?).

Manitoba Lake House (1)
(1815 - 1824, 1862 - 1894), near Langruth
A Hudson's Bay Co. post located on Lake Manitoba at Big Point. Also known as Big Point House.

Big Point House was established in 1815 as a winter post. It was located near the south end of Lake Manitoba on the west side at the outlet of the White Mud River. This was a site that HBC traders from Albany Fort (Ontario) had wintered at in past years. In 1820 new buildings were erected at the site. By 1824 Big Point House was abandoned. In 1862 Big Point House was in operation again as a winter post. It was closed sometime after 1894.

Whitemud River Posts
(1799 - unknown), near Gladstone ?
A North West Co. post and an XY Company post were both located here at the same time. The NWCo. post was rebuilt/relocated in 1810, possibly nearer to the mouth of the Whitemud River, near Westbourne. Also known as White Earth River Fort.

Pine Fort
(1785 - 1794, 1807 - 1811), near Glenboro
A North West Co. trading post on the north bank of the Assiniboine River, about one and one-half mile west of Pine Creek, above Steel's Ferry, about 18 miles below the junction with the Souris River. Also known as Fort des Pinettes, or Fort de l'Epinette. Closed and abandoned in 1794 in favour of the new Souris River post. Rebuilt and reopened by the NWCo. in May-June 1807 after transferring from the Souris River (see below). No remains, site eroded away by the river. Provincial historic marker located at the Kiche Manitou Campground in Spruce Woods Provincial Park, off of Provincial Highway 5, about 12 miles north of Glenboro. See also Pine Fort Plaque #2

An independent British trade post was earlier located here in 1768, to 1781 (?).

Peter Grant's Fort
(1785 ? - unknown), near Treesbank Ferry
A North West Co. post on the Assiniboine River, a few miles above (west of) its confluence with the Souris River. Undetermined exact location.

Also here, or perhaps the same post (?), was Robert Grant's Fort (1786 ?).

Brandon House
(1793 - 1824, 1828 - 1832), near Treesbank Ferry
A stockaded Hudson's Bay Co. trading post, originally located (October 1793) on the north bank of the Assiniboine River about two miles above its confluence with the Souris River, opposite the mouth of Five Mile Creek (Brandon House I). Located just a little upstream from the first NWCo. post (Fort Assiniboine), which was established just prior to the HBC post (see below). Attacked by Sioux Indians in 1794. Brandon House #1 site

Relocated in May 1811 to the south bank of the Assiniboine River about four miles further upriver (Brandon House II). This second post was attacked and ransacked by NWCo. employees from their post across the river in May-June 1816, was burned in 1817, and rebuilt in 1818 (probably on or near the same site).

Relocated in 1822 directly across the Assiniboine River, back to the north bank, to the former North West Co. post, which was just closed after the merger of the two companies (Brandon House III). This post was closed and abandoned in 1824.

The HBC reopened the post in 1828, but it was rebuilt on the north bank about 12 miles upstream from the Souris River junction (Brandon House IV). A stone cairn (1928) marks the fourth site. Brandon House was later replaced by Fort Ellice.
Brandon House #4 monument

See also Souris-Assiniboine Posts marker in Wawanesa (in Wawanesa Community Park at 4th and Water Streets).

Brandon House was established in 1793 by Donald MacKay on the north bank of the Assiniboine River, above the mouth of the Souris River, a few kilometres to the east of the present city of Brandon, Manitoba. This was during a period in which the HBC was establishing itself in the North West Company's provisioning area along the Assiniboine River. Brandon House was located near the North West Company posts of Fort Souris and Fort de l'Epinette.

In 1814 North West Company pemmican was seized and stored at Brandon House as part of the HBC actions during the Pemmican War which began in 1811. In 1816 the post was looted by Métis under the leadership of Cuthbert Grant. The next year a fire destroyed the post. In 1818 Peter Fidler rebuilt Brandon House. In 1822 Brandon House became the headquarters of the newly created Upper Red River District. In June 1824 Brandon House was closed as Fort Pelly was established to take over the trade in the area. In the fall of 1828 Brandon House was reopened about 12 miles from the old site. In 1832 it was closed for good.

Fort Souris (2)
(1798 - 1805/1807), near Treesbank Ferry
An XY Company post on the south bank of the Assiniboine River, about two miles above the mouth of the Souris River, on the south side of the mouth of Five Mile Creek, just below (downstream of) the first HBC Brandon House which was located almost directly across the Assiniboine River. Also known as Mouse River Fort.

The North West Company relocated here and took over this post in 1805 (see below), until May 1807 when they moved back downriver to reopen Pine Fort (see above).

An otherwise unidentified (?) fort site is located here on the north side of the mouth of Five Mile Creek, opposite the site of the XY Company's Fort Souris (2) (1798). It is larger than the south-side site. Perhaps this was also a North West Co. site (?). It was probably not the site of free trader Robert Cameron's post (1793) (see below), according to archaeologists.

Rivière-la-Souris Post
(1793 - 1807, 1811 - 1821/1824), near Treesbank Ferry
A North West Co. trading post originally located on the north bank of the Assiniboine River, about two miles above the Souris River, opposite the mouth of Five Mile Creek, and just below (downstream of) the first HBC Brandon House, which was established soon after the NWCo. post. Also known variously as John MacDonnell's House, Assiniboine House, Fort Assiniboine, or Stone Indian River House. Relocated in 1805 to the south side of the river at the former XY Company post, until 1807 when they moved back downriver to reopen Pine Fort.

The North West Co. returned to this area in the spring of 1811, but built a new post on the north side of the Assiniboine River, on a high bank directly opposite the HBC's Brandon House II, about 200 yards away, about four miles upriver from Five Mile Creek. Also known as Fort la Souris (1). This post operated until the 1821 merger of the two companies, and then was taken over by the HBC (as Brandon House III) until it closed in 1824.

See also The Fur Trade Posts of the Souris-Mouth Area from the Manitoba Historical Society

Ronald Cameron's Post
(1793 - 1795 ?), near Treesbank Ferry
An independent British trade post located on the Assiniboine River at Five Mile Creek, established shortly before the North West Co. arrived in opposition. Unknown location. (NOTE: archaeologists in the 1960's determined that the "unidentified site" mentioned above under Fort Souris (2) was likely not the site of Cameron's Post, as that site was thought to be too large to be a typical short-term free-trader's post of the period.)

Camp Brandon
(1907 - 1910), near Brandon
A Provincial Militia training camp and shooting range. Also known as Camp Aylmer. Replaced by Camp Sewell. The concrete target butts still remain on site.

Camp Hughes (Provincial Heritage Site)
(1909 - 1934/1992), near Carberry
Originally known as Camp Sewell, a summer military training camp located nine miles west of town. The camp became a year round training facility in 1915. Renamed in 1916 in honour of Major General John Hughes, GOC, the camp had all the amenities - freight sheds were built for hay and oats, a telephone system, a hospital, two theatres, a jewelry store, a barber shop, two cafes, and two banks. Also in 1916 a trench system was dug at the camp to teach trench warfare, which accurately replicated the scale and living arangements of the trenches in Europe. By the time the training school relocated to Brandon and Winnipeg in 1917, when Camp Hughes reverted back to a summer training camp, 30,000 troops had trained here. Many of the soldiers who trained here later distinguished themselves at the battle of Vimy Ridge in April 1917. Camp Hughes remained open after WWI, but finally closed in 1934 after the newly constructed Camp Shilo opened nearby. Some of the buildings from Camp Hughes were moved to Shilo, while others were dismantled and the material used in the construction of new buildings at Shilo. Except for occasional use as a training area during World War II for troops from Camp Shilo, the former camp sat unused. See also History of CFB Shilo from CFB Shilo. Of interest at CFB Shilo is the National Artillery Museum of Canada (admission fee).

In 1961 the site was reactivated as a remote transmitter station for the main communications centre at CFB Shilo. An underground communications bunker was constructed at the former camp, and was staffed by the Manitoba Signal Troop, who were later redesignated 731 Signals Squadron. By the end of the Cold War in 1991, the bunker's usefulness had passed. In 1992 the bunker was closed and sealed up, and was finally demolished in 2000. All that remains of Camp Hughes and the Transmitter Site today are the outlines of the old World War I trench system, roadways, a cemetery, and some old building foundations. The cemetery is still maintained by CFB Shilo.

Turtle Mountain Posts
(Turtle Mountain Provincial Park)
(1846 - 1865), near Wakopa
A Hudson's Bay Co. post located on the northeast slope of Turtle Mountain, just northeast of William Lake Provincial Park. Operated by Antoine Desjarlais from 1848 to 1855.

The HBC's Lena House (1801 - 1802) was previously located in the near vicinity, operated by Henry Lena with seven men.

An XY Company post was said to have been located within one mile of Lena House in 1801.

Another Hudson's Bay Co. post/store (1880) was later located just southwest of Wakopa, a little further east of the earlier Turtle Mountain Post, at Old Wakopa (1877 - 1886) on the Long River. The village was revived and relocated 2 km northeast in 1905 when the railroad arrived, but was itself abandoned by 1970.

Whitewater Posts
(1802 - 1805), near Whitewater
A Hudson's Bay Co. post located on the south side of Whitewater Lake. It was abandoned in 1805.

A North West Co. post (1802 - 1805) was also located nearby.

Deloraine Post
(1887 - 1908), Deloraine
A Hudson's Bay Co. post/store (HBC records begin 1891) was established here in the new townsite after the railroad arrived. The old townsite, near the south end of the present Deloraine Reservoir, was relocated northwest in 1886.

The Hudson's Bay Company established a fur trade post and store in the townsite of Deloraine in 1887. It was closed sometime after 1908.

Souris River Post (3)
(1808 - 1810 ?), near Coulter
An American Fur Co. post located on the Souris River north of the present farm community, just south of Coulter Park on the Antler River.

Melita Post
(1849), near Melita
An independent trade post located on the Souris River a few miles south of town.

Napinka Post
(1846), near Napinka
An independent trader from Turtle Mountain established a post here on the Souris River.

Fort (Joseph) Desjarlais
(1836 - 1858), near Lauder
An independent trade post located on the north bank of the Souris River, slightly west of due north of town. Burned down in 1858. A stockade wall was 200 by 150 feet, and several cellar depressions and chimney mounds were still evident in the 1960's. Site was excavated in 1967 before it flooded and eroded away after 1969.

Souris River Post (4)
(1810 ? - 1828), near Lauder
An American Fur Co. post located on the north bank of the Souris River directly north of town, just downstream (east) from the Fort Desjarlais site. A portion of the site has eroded away but three cellar depressions and chimney mounds still remain within a 100 by 120 feet stockade wall foundation.

Ash House
(1795 - 1796), near Hartney
A North West Co. post on the north bank of the Souris River, just west-southwest of town at or near the mouth of an unnamed (?) creek. Abandoned after one season due to Sioux hostility in the area. Also known as Fort de la Frenière.

An XY Company post managed by Peter Grant was also located nearby in 1795.

Cuthbert Grant's Fort
(1824 - 1854/1861), near Hartney
A Hudson's Bay Co. post located on the north bank of the Souris River immediately west of town, downriver from Ash House. Some sources call this Fort Mr. Grant. Grant died in 1854, but the post may have continued on for a few more years. A stockade wall was 150 by 120 feet. Six cellar depressions remain on private property. This was probably the same post as the HBC's Sand Hills Post (1857).

A short-lived unnamed Métis fur trade post (1840's) was located on the north bank of the Souris River northwest of town, downstream from Grant's Fort. Site located on the southwest corner of the present Hartney Golf Club grounds, on the west side of Provincial Highway 21.

Magwood Archaeological Site
(unknown dates), near Hartney
An independent trade post (date ?) was located on the north bank of the Souris River northeast of town. Remains and artifacts were found in the 1940's.

Alston Archaeological Site
(1790's), near Hartney
An independent British trade post located on the south bank of the Souris River about halfway between Hartney and Mentieth. Log foundations were discovered in 1937.

McBurney Archaeological Site
(unknown dates), near Menteith
An independent trade post (date ?) located on the north bank of the Souris River northwest of the small farm community.

Fort Montagne à la Bosse
(1790 - 1821), near Virden
A North West Co. 200 by 250 feet stockaded post enclosing several cabins. Located on the south side of the Assiniboine River east of Gopher Creek, about two miles north of Routledge Station on the Canadian Pacific Railroad, east of Virden. Briefly closed in 1794. Possibly closed again in 1805 (?). A stone cairn marks the general location. The exact location was destroyed by a gravel borrow pit operation during the construction of the Canadian Pacific Railway.

Shoal Lake Posts (1) (2)
(1875 - 1886), Shoal Lake
A NWMP patrol post and barracks. Became the Qu'Appelle District Headquarters in 1878. A replica of the barracks was built in 1984 at Lakeview Park, now the Police and Pioneer Museum.

A Hudson's Bay Co. post/store was later located here in 1887 - 1912.

The HBC established a store and fur trade post at Shoal Lake in 1887. That year Lots 25 and 26 of Block 4, Townsite of Shoal Lake, were given to the HBC by M.W. Thompson. Shoal Lake was in operation until at least 1912.

Fort Birdtail
(1832 ? - 1865 ?), Birdtail Creek
A small Hudson's Bay Co. post on the north bank of the Assiniboine River at Birdtail Creek, about 12 miles south of Fort Ellice. Probably a subpost of Fort Ellice.

Beaver Creek House (1)
(1794, 1815 - 1816, 1817 - 1824), near St. Lazare
A Hudson's Bay Co. post located on the west bank of the Assiniboine River about two km upstream from Beaver Creek. It was a subpost of Brandon House.

Nearby was the North West Co.'s Beaver Creek Post (2) (1819 - 1821).

Beaver Creek House, originally known as Qu'Appelle River Post (not to be confused with the Qu'Appelle River Post in Saskatchewan), was first established in February 1794 by John Sutherland who travelled to the site from Brandon House. It was situated on the Qu'Appelle River about 20 kilometres from its confluence with the Assiniboine River, in present-day Manitoba near its border with Saskatchewan. Qu'Appelle River operated for the summer of 1794 and was not re-established until November 1815. A year later it was destroyed by the North West Company. Rebuilt in 1817 about 40 kilometres on the south bank of the Assiniboine River near Beaver Creek. At this time the post was known as Beaver Creek. It played an important role in the fur trade of the western region of the Winnipeg District. In 1824 Beaver Creek, along with the other posts in the Swan River District, was closed in order to let the animal population in the region recover.

Fort Ellice
(Nature Conservancy of Canada)
(1831 - 1890), near St. Lazare
A Hudson's Bay Co. supply post at the mouth of Beaver Creek (HBC records end 1889). Relocated one mile east in 1862. No remains. A 1930 stone cairn marks the site. Site purchased by the Nature Conservancy of Canada in 2012. A second monument was erected in 2020.

A portion of the NWMP was quartered here in the winter of 1873-74, and later briefly established a patrol post here in 1875, replaced by Shoal Lake Post (1) (NWMP).

In 1831 Beaver Creek House was reopened under the name Fort Ellice, named in honour of the HBC director, Edward Ellice. It was reopened in order to ward off competitive trading from the American Fur Company, as well as to take over the business of Brandon House, which was recently closed. Fort Ellice was made the headquarters of the Upper Red River District. It also served as a depot for dried meat and pemmican given its close proximity to large bison herds. In 1832 Fort Ellice was transferred to the Swan River District. From 1873-1882 Fort Ellice was the headquarters for this district. In 1890 the HBC sold the Fort Ellice store to Thomas V. Wheeler, apprentice clerk. Wheeler conducted private business at Fort Ellice until 1892.

Shell River Posts
(Asessippi Provincial Park)
(1794 - 1796, 1800 - 1802 ?), near Shellmouth
A Hudson's Bay Co. post at the mouth of the Shell River on the right bank of the Assiniboine River. First established in 1794 by John Sutherland, it was abandoned in 1796. Re-established in 1800 for at least two more seasons. The Shellmouth Dam was completed in 1972, resulting in the impoundment of the Assiniboine River at Lake of the Prairies, flooding the site.

An independent British trade post (Rivière la Coquille Post) was also located here in 1794 - 1795, built by Peter Grant after he briefly left the North West Company in 1792 for a four-year stint as an independent trader, in partnership with (cousin ?) David Grant.

In 1881 the Hudson's Bay Company opened a store in the village of Russell to trade with new settlers heading west on the railway. The store was also called Shell River (3), referring to the trading post that had operated near the village site in the early nineteenth century. It was located on lot 10, block 93 in the village. The store was closed in May 1893 (HBC records cover 1889 only).

Riding Mountain Post
(Riding Mountain National Park)
(1862 - 1880/1895), near Elphinstone
A Hudson's Bay Co. post. Originally located near Horod, it was relocated in 1878. Manitoba Historical Society

Riding Mountain was established as an outpost of Fort Ellice in 1862. In 1867 the post was burned down and rebuilt the next year. In 1880 a new townsite called Elphinstone was developed around the post. As a result, the Riding Mountain trading post was replaced by a store. In May 1895 Riding Mountain store was sold to J.A. Lauder.

Fort Dauphin (2) (Museum)
(1797 - 1831, 1849 - 1870), Dauphin
A replica of a palisaded North West Co. post located at 140 Jackson Street. Located here are a trapper's cabin, trading post, blacksmith shop, two log cabins, storehouse, and chapel. Admission fee. Original site of the post was on the south bank of the Valley River about 4 km (2.5 miles) from Dauphin Lake. The HBC relocated to this post in 1822, and was closed in 1831.

Fort Dauphin (2) was established by the North West Company in 1797 on the south shore of Valley River about 2 miles from Dauphin Lake. It served primarily as a provision post for the NWCo. and as a centre for their fur trading activities in the area. Until the amalgamation of 1821, both the NWCo. and HBC had posts in the area that operated in closed proximity to each other. After the amalgamation, HBC abandoned their post and moved into the NWCo.'s fort.

The Hudson's Bay Co. had built a competing post (Dauphin Lake House) in 1817 just 60 yards from the NWCo. post (HBC records cover 1795 - 1821). The HBC closed this post in 1821 and took over the nearby North West Co. post, until 1831. A new post was built by 1850, and closed by 1870, possibly located on the west shore of the lake about 8 miles south of the Valley River (?). Another possible site was on the south shore of the lake near the Ochre River. The present town of Dauphin was incorporated in 1898.

An independent British trade post may have been located on the north shore of the lake in 1767.

Independent trader Peter Pond established a post in 1779 on the east bank of the Mossy River about three-fourths of one mile up from the northern lakeshore.

Dauphin Lake was first established in 1795 by John Best, who travelled there from Osnaburgh House (Ontario). It was located on the Mossy River near its outlet into Lake Winnipegosis. Best spent the winter of 1795-1796 at the post, after which time it was closed. In 1817 Dauphin Lake was re-established at a different site, on the west side of Dauphin Lake. Two years later it was moved to within a half kilometre of the North West Company post on Dauphin Lake which, in turn, moved closer to the HBC post. After HBC's merger with the North West Company in 1821, HBC closed its post and took over the North West Company post. In the spring of 1824 Fort Dauphin, along with Swan River, was closed in order to allow the recovery of the animal population in the region. Three years later, Fort Dauphin was re-established as a winter post in order to stop petty traders in the area. In 1831 the post was once again abandoned. It may have been in operation during the 1849-1850 season, but this is uncertain. From 1867-1870, Fort Dauphin appears to have conducted a small winter trade. In 1890 the HBC opened a store in the Dauphin townsite. It is unclear how long this was in operation.

Manitoba House
(1797 - 1798, 1800 - 1824, 1828 - 1911), near Kinosota
Originally a North West Co. post located south of the outlet of Ebb and Flow Lake, just below "The Narrows" of Lake Manitoba. Also known as Doubtful Post. Taken over by the Hudson's Bay Co. in 1821. A new HBC post was later established at a former Roman Catholic mission in 1852, which burned in 1859 but was soon rebuilt. The Indian Treaty Number 2 was signed here in August 1871. The settlement was renamed in 1889. After the post closed, the abandoned buildings were used by a series of families as a dwelling and store. In 1928 the buildings were sold and most were moved to a farm north of Alonsa. The kitchen part of the residence was moved to a nearby spot, and some of the remaining logs were used to build a church at Reedy Creek. Through much of the 20th century, only a few depressions in the ground marked the former site of the post. In the early 1970's the Manitoba Métis Federation constructed a replica of the former fur trade post, which today remains abandoned and neglected.

Manitoba House, first known as Doubtful Post, was established in October 1797 on the west side of the Lake Manitoba narrows. It was established by John Cobb as part of the Albany River District. In May 1798 Cobb abandoned the post. It was in operation once again by 1800. In 1824 Manitoba House was abandoned along with Fort Dauphin and their businesses were transferred to Fort Pelly. In 1828 Manitoba House was re-established to ward off free trade in the area from freemen and Red River settlers. Between 1849 and 1857, it served as an outpost of Lower Fort Garry before being transferred to the Swan River District. During the 1860's it operated an outpost at Oak Point. From 1880 to 1904, Manitoba House functioned as the headquarters of the Manitoba District. In 1891 the HBC received patent to create a settlement at Manitoba House. The settlement, along with the increasing importance of fisheries in the area, caused a significant decline in the Lake Manitoba fur trade. As a result, Manitoba House was closed at the end of Outfit 1911.

Lake Manitoba Post (2)
(1856 - 1912), near Reykjavik
A Hudson's Bay Co. post located at "The Narrows" of Lake Manitoba, at the present Highway 68 crossing.

Dog Lake Post
(unknown dates), near Vogar
A North West Co. post.

Latour's House
(1796 - unknown/1821 ?), near Fairford
A North West Co. post located at the portage to Lake St. Martin.

Possibly (?) the same as Pineimuta Lake Post, a North West Co. post located about 10 miles northeast of the later HBC's Fairford Post, which was closed in 1821 and not further operated by the HBC after the merger of the two companies. This was also known as Fale Perdrix Post ("partridge crop" (or "gizzard"), probably so named after the shape of the lake.

Fairford Post
(1819 - 1823, 1846 - 1913), Fairford
A Hudson's Bay Co. post on the portage between Portage Bay and Lake St. Martin/Dauphin River. An Anglican mission was built here in 1842.

Fairford, first known as Partridge Crop, was established by the HBC as a wintering post in 1819. It was located on Lake Manitoba at the head of the Partridge Crop River (now the Fairford River) on its left bank. This area was a sub-section of the Winnipeg District known as the Manetoba District. In 1823 Partridge Crop appears to have been closed.

In 1846 Partridge Crop was re-established when another post on Lake Manitoba was moved to the same site. Four years earlier, an Anglican mission had been established near the original site of the post. In 1851 the mission name was changed to Fairford after the birth place of Rev. Abraham Cowley, the founder of the mission. In 1882 the Hudson's Bay Company received a land patent from the Dominion Government for the land surrounding their post as part of the terms of the 1870 Deed of Surrender. In 1912 Fairford was closed along with most of the other posts in the Manitoba District.

Grassy Narrows Post
(Hecla-Grindstone Provincial Park)
(1863 - 1876), near Riverton
A Hudson's Bay Co. post located on the Grindstone Peninsula near the "Narrows" of Lake Winnipeg, across from the western end of Hecla Island (formerly known as Mickly Island). The four immigrant Icelandic settlements in the area north of Boundary Creek (Gimli, Riverton, Hecla, and Sandy Bar) were part of the "Republic of New Iceland" from 1875 - 1881, once a nominally self-governing colony within the Northwest Territories.

Grassy Narrows was established in 1863 as an outpost of Lower Fort Garry. It was closed sometime after 1876.

Dog Head Post
(1874 - 1898), near Pine Dock
A Hudson's Bay Co. post located at the "Narrows" of Lake Winnipeg (HBC records cover 1878 - 1895).

Doghead was established sometime before 1874 in the Lac la Pluie District as a fur trade post. In 1876 it was transferred to the Red River District as an outpost of Lower Fort Garry. Doghead was closed sometime after 1898.

Fisher River Post
(1889 - 1904), Fisher River
A Hudson's Bay Co. post.

Fisher River was established by 1887, although its exact date of creation is not known. It was located on the river of the same name in a First Nations reserve in present-day Manitoba. Fisher River served as an outpost for Lower Fort Garry. During Outfit 1892 it was closed and most likely didn't reopen.

Jackhead Post
(unknown dates), Jackhead
A North West Co. post on Lake Winnipeg.

Fort Dauphin (1)
(1741 - 1759), Winnipegosis
A French fort located at the mouth of the Mossy River at Lake Winnipegosis. Attacked by Indians in 1743 and rebuilt on a new site further upriver. A 1952 stone cairn marks the site.

Winnipegosis Post
(1897 - 1912), Winnipegosis
A Hudson's Bay Co. post (HBC records begin 1901).

Winnipegosis, first known as Mossy River (until 1900), was established in 1897. It was located at the Canadian National Railway terminus on Lake Winnipegosis. In 1906 changes in liquor licensing laws and the closing of Lake Winnipegosis to summer fishing caused decreased profitability of the Winnipegosis saleshop. In 1912 Winnipegosis was closed.

Waterhen River Post
(1849 - 1913), near Rock Ridge
A Hudson's Bay Co. post (HBC records begin 1891). Originally located on the southeastern shore of Waterhen Lake, it was relocated to its present site on the Waterhen River in 1895.

Waterhen River was established in 1849. It was originally located near the outlet of the Waterhen River on Lake Winnipegosis. In 1885 it was moved to the east shore of Waterhen River at its outlet into Waterhen Lake. The post was likely closed in 1912 with the dissolution of the Manitoba District.

Pine Creek Post
(1888 - 1913), Camperville
A Hudson's Bay Co. post (HBC records begin 1890) located at the mouth of the Pine River.

Pine Creek was established around 1888, taking over the business from Duck Bay. Pine Creek was located about 20 kilometres from Duck Bay on Lake Winnipegosis. In 1912 Pine Creek was closed with the dissolution of the Manitoba District.

Duck Bay House
(1859 - 1887), near Duck Bay
A small Hudson's Bay Co. post at the mouth of the Duck River. It was a subpost of the Shoal River Post. Replaced by an HBC store at Camperville on the west bank of the Pine River just to the south, about one and one-half mile from the lakeshore (sold in 1908). The present village of Duck Bay was established in 1971 on the peninsula along the eastern rim of Duck Bay, although permanent settlement was started by the 1920's. Camperville was originally known as Pine Creek until 1914. The Roman Catholic mission there was built in 1886.

Bird Mountain House
(1793 - 1795), near Thunder Hill
A North West Co. post located on the Swan River at or near Thunder Hill Creek, near the Saskatchewan border north of Durban, about two miles downstream from the HBC's Somerset House. Built by Cuthbert Grant. Probably relocated in 1795 closer to Somerset House.

Somerset House
(1794 - 1796, 1808), near Thunder Hill
A Hudson's Bay Co. post built by Charles Isham, located on the Swan River near the Saskatchewan border, north of Durban, about two miles above Bird Mountain House. Also known as Tilberry House and Marlborough House. Briefly re-opened for the 1807-08 season.

A North West Co. post (Bird Mountain House relocated ?) was built nearby in 1795.

A post was established on the Red River near the Swan River by Charles Thomas Isham in September 1793. It was named Marlborough House, possibly in honour of the Duke of Marlborough, governor of the Hudson's Bay Company from 1695 to 1692. In March 1794 Isham and the men at Marlborough House abandoned the post, bringing all of its provisions to Swan River House. That September Isham re-established Marlborough House on the north bank of the Swan River, about 20 miles from Swan River House. In May 1796 Marlborough House was abandoned and Isham returned to Swan River House.

Swan River Posts
(1787 - 1822), near Swan River
A North West Co. post was built by Robert Grant on the Swan River in 1787 (Swan River Fort (1)), about four miles upriver from Swan Lake. Rebuilt or relocated in 1795.

The Hudson's Bay Co. built a post here by Charles Isham (Swan River House (2)) in 1790, about one-half mile upstream from the NWCo. post. Closed in 1800 to 1807. The HBC may have later taken over the NWCo. post in 1822 instead of closing it, and continued in it until 1824.

Swan River House was established in 1790 by Charles Thomas Isham as part of the York Inland sub-district of the York Factory District. It was situated on the north bank of the river of the same name, a few miles above the outlet into Swan Lake. In May 1800 Swan River was abandoned in order to place more company servants on the boat brigades of the Saskatchewan River. Swan River was re-established in the spring of 1807 about 12 miles further up the river. Known as Lower Swan River House in 1817-1818. Beginning in 1822 it also acted as the headquarters of the newly created Swan River District. In September 1824 Swan River was abandoned, along with Fort Dauphin (2) and Lower Red Deer River, in order to let the population of fur-bearing animals recuperate. The business conducted at all three posts was replaced by Fort Pelly, which also superceded Swan River as the headquarters of the Swan River District. In 1825 Swan River was re-established for summers and conducted a minimal trade. It operated temporarily until around 1831.

Shoal River Post
(1828/1853 - 1895/1915), Swan Lake
A Hudson's Bay Co. post on the Shoal River near the north shore of Swan Lake, shown on an 1888 NWMP map. An Anglican mission was established here in 1855.

Shoal River was established in 1828 on the river of the same name near the outlet from Swan Lake. First known as New Fort Swan Lake, it was created to replace Swan River which had been mostly abandoned since 1824. Shoal River functioned as a depot for the Swan River District until 1875 when it was transferred to the Manitoba District. It outfitted and received fur returns of Aboriginal hunters in the Swan and Winnipegosis Lakes region. In 1912 Shoal River was closed with the dissolution of the Manitoba District.

Lower Red Deer River Posts
(1797 - unknown), Red Deer Lake
A North West Co. post located near the outlet of the Red Deer River into Red Deer Lake. Located on the north bank of the river, near the Saskatchewan border.

A Hudson's Bay Co. post (date ?) was located on the south bank of the river, about two miles downstream from the NWCo. post. Closed in 1824.

NOTE: Many of the Hudson's Bay Company post descriptions are courtesy of the HBC Archives.

NEED MORE INFO:
Towns: Duck Lake Post.

Northern Manitoba - page 2

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