Manitoba Forts

Canadian Forts

MANITOBA

Last Update: 19/JULY/2008

Fort Alexander
(Fort Alexander Indian Reserve)
(1793 - 1860, 1870), Fort Alexander
Built by the Hudson's Bay Co. to counter the North West Co.'s Fort Bas-de-la-Rivière that was nearby. Probably rebuilt in 1857. A model of the fort is at the Sakeeng Museum in nearby Pine Falls. It was garrisoned by the Canadian Militia in 1870 during the Red River Rebellion.
(additional info courtesy of Andy Korsos)

Fort Maurepas
(1734 - 1763), Fort Alexander
This French fort was located just across the Winnipeg River, also on the Fort Alexander Indian Reserve. It had burned down in 1747, was rebuilt in 1748, and burned down again in 1763.
(additional info courtesy of Andy Korsos)

Fort Bas-de-la-Rivière
(1792 - 1821), Fort Alexander
A North West Co. post, also known as Winnipeg House.
(additional info courtesy of Andy Korsos)

Lower Fort Garry (National Historic Site)
(1826 - 1870's ?), Selkirk
A Hudson's Bay Co. post. It was garrisoned by the Canadian Militia in 1870 - 1871 during the Red River Rebellion. It is the oldest stone-walled fur post remaining in the province. It has been recreated to its 1850's appearance. Admission fee.

Fort Gibraltar
(The Forks National Historic Site)
(1804 - 1826), Winnipeg
A North West Co. post. First located here was the French Fort Rouge (1737 - ?). Taken over by the Hudson's Bay Co. in 1821 and renamed Fort Garry. Destroyed by a flood in 1826, then relocated to Selkirk.

Upper Fort Garry
(The Forks National Historic Site)
(1836 - 1882), Winnipeg
The Hudson's Bay Co. decided in 1836 that this site should be rebuilt as this was still a major trading location. The fort was expanded in 1854, when the Governor's Gate was constructed. Today this gate is all that remains of the fort after it was dismantled. In 1870 the post became the headquarters for the District of Assiniboia, and was garrisoned by the Canadian Militia until 1871. The Métis captured it during the Red River Rebellion in 1870. The city of Winnipeg grew around the fort, and many historic buildings' foundations were built upon the fort's original stones.

Post at Morris
(unknown dates), Morris
A fur trade post of the North West Co. and the Hudson's Bay Co.

Fort Douglas
(1812 - 1826), undetermined location
This was the main stockade of the Red River Colony, the first permanent white settlement in the province. Attacked by Métis in 1816. Destroyed by a flood in 1826. (see also NORTH DAKOTA page)

Fort aux Rosseaux
(1734 - unknown), near Letellier ?
A French fort located on the Red River.

Fort Dufferin
(1874 - unknown), Emerson
A North West Mounted Police command post. It was garrisoned by the Canadian Militia in 1870 - 1871 during the Red River Rebellion, and also during the Fenian Raids in 1871. There are remains of buildings and gravesites. This is now a memorial to the NWMP.

Dakota Entrenchments
(1864), High Bluff
Remains of a fortified Dakota camp from the Dakota Uprising in Minnesota. It provided protection from Red Lake Chippewa Indians.

Fort la Reine
(1737 - 1753), Portage la Prairie
A French fur post at Fort la Reine Museum and Pioneer Village. Admission fee.

Pine Fort
(1785 - unknown), near Lavenham ?
A North West Co. trading post on the Assiniboine River.

Peter Grant's Fort
(1785 ? - unknown), near Treesbank
A North West Co. post on the Assiniboine River, a few miles above its confluence with the Souris River. Also here, or the same post, was Robert Grant's Fort (1786 ?).

Brandon House
(1793 - umknown), near Treesbank
A stockaded Hudson's Bay Co. trading post, located on the north bank of the Assiniboine River a few miles above its confluence with the Souris River.

River la Souris Post
(1793 - unknown), near Treesbank
A North West Co. trading post located on the north bank of the Assiniboine River, about three miles upriver from Brandon House. Also known as John Macdonnell's House, Assiniboine House, and Fort Assiniboine.

Fort Montagne à la Bosse
(1790 - 1821), near Virden
A North West Co. stockaded post with several cabins. Located on the south-side of the Assiniboine River east of Gopher Creek, about two miles north of Routledge.
(additional info courtesy of Andy Korsos)

Fort Ellice
(1831 - 1890), near St. Lazare
A Hudson's Bay Co. supply post. Became a NWMP post beginning in 1875.
(additional info courtesy of Andy Korsos)

Fort Dauphin (2) (Provincial Historic Site)
(1797 - 1831), Dauphin
A replica of a palisaded North West Co. post. Located here are a trapper's cabin, trading post, blacksmith shop, two log cabins, storehouse, and church. Admission fee. Original location was on the south bank of the Valley River about 4 km from Dauphin Lake. It was abandoned in 1821. The Hudson's Bay Co. had built a competing post, same name, in 1817 just 60 yards from the North West post.
(additional info courtesy of Andy Korsos)

Fort Dauphin (1)
(1741 - 1763), Winnipegosis
A French fort. Attacked by Indians in 1743 and rebuilt.
(additional info courtesy of Andy Korsos)

Swan River Post
(unknown dates), Swan River
A fur trade post of the North West Co. and Hudson's Bay Co. In 1874 a NWMP post was established here.

Fort Bourbon (2)
(1741 - 1763), near Easterville
A French fort on Cedar Lake.

Fort le Pas
(1742 - 1763), The Pas
A French fort, also known as Fort Pasquia or Fort Paskoya. To the east of here was French Fort la Jonquière.
(additional info courtesy of Andy Korsos)

Norway House
(1814 - 1868), Norway House
A Hudson's Bay Co. post and supply depot. Located here is the Archway Warehouse (1840 - 1841), Jail (1855 - 1856), and Powder Magazine (1837 - 1838).

Fort Nelson
(1670 - 1715), Port Nelson
A Hudson's Bay Co. post at the mouth of the Nelson River. Briefly captured by the French in 1683, it was rebuilt in 1684 and renamed Fort York, or York Factory I, a strong fort with six guns. Rebuilt with four bastions in 1691. Just offshore from here, in the largest Arctic naval battle in North America, one French ship defeated three British ships in 1697 in a struggle over control of York Factory I. The French controlled the fort and called it Fort Bourbon (1) from 1683, 1694 - 1695, and 1697 - 1713. It was finally returned to the British in 1713. The post was relocated to the Hayes River in 1715 (see below).

York Factory (National Historic Site)
(1788 - 1957), York Factory
York Factory II (1715 - 1788) was located at the mouth of the Hayes River. The currently known post on the Hayes River is York Factory III. This was the main field headquarters of the Company until it finally closed in 1957. A depot, built in 1832, is the oldest wooden structure still standing on permafrost. There is also ruins of a stone gunpowder magazine and an 18th-century cemetery. Admission fee.

Fort Prince of Wales (National Historic Site)
(1731 - 1782), near Churchill
Originally a Hudson's Bay Co. post. This is a large partially restored stone fort just across the Churchill River from town. It took 40 years to build and surrendered to the French without firing a shot in 1782. The French left after only three days. The fort was designed for 400 men, but only had 39 in 1782. Another website at web.idirect.com

The HBC may have had a post here as early as 1717.

Cape Merry Battery (Historic Site)
(1780's ?), Churchill
A stone battery to compliment Fort Prince of Wales. Admission fee.

Fort Churchill
(1746 - unknown), Churchill
A Hudson's Bay Co. post east of town. Rebuilt in 1749 on its present site. Ruins of the gunpowder magazine remain. Only one cannon, of six, was ever installed.

NEED MORE INFO: Fort Richmond and Fort Whyte in Winnipeg; Camp Churchill near The Pas.
Fort Tremblante (aka Tremblante River Post) (1790's), a North West Company trading post on the Assiniboine River at the Tremblante River (location ?).

Towns: Camp Morton, Duck Lake Post.