Northwest Territories Forts

Canadian Forts

NORTHWEST TERRITORIES

Last Update: 27/JANUARY/2014

NOTE: Established in 1820, administered by the Hudson's Bay Company until 1869 as part of Prince Rupert's Land (granted in 1670 by the British Crown).

Fort Smith
(1874 - 1897), Fort Smith
A Hudson's Bay Co. post (HBC records begin 1875) on the northern rapids of the Slave River at the Alberta border. Of interest in town is the Northern Life Museum and Cultural Centre at 110 King Street. The city is located adjacent to Wood Buffalo National Park.

The HBC originally built Smith's Landing Post at the southern rapids in 1872.

The North West Mounted Police also later established a post here at Fort Smith (date ?).

Salt River Post ? ?
(1927 - unknown), Salt River
A trade post located just northwest of Fort Smith.

Chiswick House
(1803 - 1806), near Fort Resolution
A Hudson's Bay Co. post at the mouth of the Slave River.

Fort Resolution (National Historic Site)
(1786/1818 - 1926), Fort Resolution (Deninu Kue)
The first fur trade posts on Great Slave Lake were established in 1786 by Cuthbert Grant Sr. of the North West Company and his rival Laurent Leroux of the "Little Company". These included Grant’s Slave River Fort, which was twice moved westward, finally settling near the mouth of the Slave River in 1791. This post remained largely unchallenged by competing traders until, in 1818, Aualay McAulay of the Hudson's Bay Company built a competing post nearby, which he named Fort Resolution (aka Great Slave Lake Post). After the union of the two companies in 1821 the two forts were merged, and were moved to a small peninsula facing the Resolution Islands. Fort Resolution became the Hudson's Bay Company's principal post on the lake, and remains an active community. There are no above ground remains of the original post.

The North West Mounted Police established a post here in 1913. Patrols were made here as early as 1897 from posts in Alberta.

Rocher River Post
(1921 - 1963), near Fort Resolution
A Hudson's Bay Co. post located on Great Slave Lake, east of the Slave River delta.

Snowdrift Post
(1925/28 - unknown), Snowdrift (Lutselk'e)
A Hudson's Bay Co. post at the mouth of the Snowdrift River. The settlement was renamed in 1992.

Fort Reliance (National Historic Site)
(1833 - 1834, 1855), Reliance
Originally built in 1833 by Alexander McLeod of the Hudson’s Bay Company for the use of Capt. George Back, of the British Royal Navy, during the Arctic Land Expedition to the Arctic Ocean via the Back River. The expedition, partly scientific and partly searching for the missing Capt. John Ross (since 1829), used Fort Reliance as a winter camp. Back's fort was made up of a main house with several smaller ones that were constructed from logs. The houses had stone and clay chimneys for heating. The outline of the logs along with the chimneys and some storage pits still exist. In 1855 the Hudson's Bay Company's Chief Factor James Anderson rebuilt the fort. It was intended to be used as winter quarters while searching for the lost expedition of John Franklin, but it was again abandoned after one season. It was not a fur trading outpost although the site was later used by trappers in the Thelon River area. In 1897 a log cabin, using one of the chimneys, was built by the American trapper Buffalo Jones. See also Northern Vignettes from Prince of Wales Northern Heritage Centre

The RCMP later established a post here on Police Bay from 1928 - 1961. Site now the Trophy Fishing Lodge.

Fort Providence (1)
(1786 - 1823), Old Fort Providence, near Yellowknife
A North West Co. post, later a Hudson's Bay Co. post, located east of Wool Bay. Established by Laurent Leroux, it was composed of at least four log cabins, and was primarily a supply post for other nearby trading posts. This was John Franklin's base camp during the first Arctic Land Expedition in 1820. Stone fireplaces still remain at the site. The ruins were excavated in 1969 - 1971. See also Northern Vignettes from Prince of Wales Northern Heritage Centre

Yellow Knife Fort
(1802 - 1803 ?), Yellowknife
A North West Co. post.

Yellowknife Posts
(1937 ? - unknown), Yellowknife
The HBC and the RCMP both established posts here prior to 1940.

Fort Rae
(1853 - 1905/1925), Old Fort Rae
A Hudson's Bay Co. post, originally built at Marten Lake (Lac La Martre) in 1852. Relocated to Rae (renamed Behchokö in 2005) in 1905.

A North West Co. trade post was originally located nearby in 1787.

The NWMP / RCMP also later established a post here sometime before 1940 (date ?).

Lac La Martre Posts
(1789 - unknown, 1852), Marten Lake (Whatì)
A North West Co. trade post was originally located here. The Hudson's Bay Co. later established a post here in 1852 before it was relocated to Fort Rae. The community was renamed in 1996.

Fort Enterprise
(1820 - 1821), near Snare Lake (Wekweètì)
A winter camp on the Snare River, established by John Franklin and George Back of the British Navy's first Arctic Land Expedition. In the winter of 1820 Back made a round-trip journey of almost 1,800 kilometres, from Fort Enterprise to Fort Chipewyan, Alberta, when Franklin’s expedition ran short of supplies. The community was renamed in 1998.

Hay River Posts
(1868 - 1878/1893), Hay River
A Hudson's Bay Co. post. The Hay River Museum Society Heritage Center is located in the former HBC store built in 1948. The town was relocated south of Vale Island after severe flooding in 1963. See also History of Hay River from Town of Hay River

The NWMP / RCMP also later established a post here sometime before 1940 (date ?).

Big Island Post ? ?
(1847 - unknown), Big Island
A trading post located on Big Island, located at the head of the Mackenzie River at Great Slave Lake.

Fort George
(1804 - unknown), Kakisa
A trade post located at Kakisa Lake.

Fort Providence (2)
(1871 - 1907), Fort Providence
A Hudson's Bay Co. post.

The NWMP / RCMP also later established a post here sometime before 1940 (date ?).

Livingston's Fort
(1796 - 1799), near Jean Marie River
A North West Co. trading post located on the Mackenzie River at the mouth of the Trout Lake River (?), southeast of town.

Fort Simpson
(1804 - 1811, 1822 - 1948), Fort Simpson
A North West Co. post, originally called Fort of the Forks. Possibly originally located at present-day Heritage Park. Transferred to the Hudson's Bay Company in 1822 and renamed (HBC records begin in 1818). This was the oldest continuously occupied post on the Mackenzie River. Eight pre-1940 buildings once stood here, the last remaining is the 1935 Company Shed on McKenzie Drive. See also Fort Simpson History and Attractions from Village of Fort Simpson

The North West Mounted Police established a post here in 1913.

Fort Liard
(1807 - 1903), Fort Liard FORT WIKI
A North West Co. post located on Liard Island in the Liard River, near the BC border. Abandoned after the traders were killed by local Indians (year ?), it was not re-established until about 1820. It was turned over to the Hudson's Bay Co. in 1822.

The NWMP / RCMP also later established a post here sometime before 1940 (date ?).

Rocky Mountain Fort
(1800 - 1803), near Wrigley
A trade post located on the Mackenzie River about halfway between present-day Wrigley and Fort Simpson.

Fort Alexander
(1804 - unknown), near Wrigley
A North West Co. trading post located on the Mackenzie River at the mouth of the Willowlake River, south of town.

Fort Wrigley
(1890 - 1910), Wrigley
A Hudson's Bay Co. post. The settlement of Wrigley was relocated to its present site in 1965.

The NWMP / RCMP also later established a post here sometime before 1940 (date ?).

Fort Castor
(1804/10 - unknown), near Fort Norman
A trade post on the Mackenzie River, near the mouth of the Redstone River.

Fort Norman
(1804/10 - 1911), Fort Norman (Tulita)
First a North West Co. post, originally located near the mouth of the Blackwater River. Became a Hudson's Bay Co. post begining in 1822, then relocated downriver in 1825 to the vicinity of the present town. The post was relocated again in 1851. The hamlet was renamed in 1996.

The RCMP also later established a post here sometime before 1940 (date ?).

Fort Franklin
(Déline Fishery - Fort Franklin National Historic Site)
(1825 - 1826), Fort Franklin (Déline)
A Hudson's Bay Co. winter post and staging area for John Franklin's second Arctic Land Expedition. The original fort site was excavated by the Prince of Wales Northern Heritage Centre in 1987. No above ground remains. The town was renamed in 1993. See also Northern Vignettes from Prince of Wales Northern Heritage Centre

A North West Co. trade post was originally located nearby in 1805.

Fort Confidence
(1837 - 1839, 1848), Great Bear Lake
A Hudson's Bay Co. post located at the mouth of the Dease River on the eastern tip of the Dease Arm of Great Bear Lake. Built by Peter Warren Dease and Thomas Simpson during exploration of the Great Bear Lake and Coppermine River area. The structure was a log building, but burned down a short time later. In 1848 the post was rebuilt and used by John Richardson and Dr. John Rae as a base of operations during the search for explorer John Franklin, who went missing along the Arctic Coast in 1845. These buildings were still standing in 1902, but had again been destroyed by fire by 1911 when George M. Douglas' expedition to the Coppermine River passed through the area. The present remains consist of four stone and clay chimneys. Fort Confidence was featured in Jules Verne's book "The Fur Country".

Dease Bay Post ? ?
(1920 - unknown), Great Bear Lake
A trade post located at the mouth of the Dease River near the site of Fort Confidence.

Port Radium Posts
(1933 - unknown), Port Radium
An HBC post and also later a RCMP post (before 1940) were located here at the former mining community along the McTavish Arm of Great Bear Lake.

Cameron Bay Post
(1933 - unknown), near Port Radium
A RCMP post.

Old Fort
(unknown dates), near Fort Good Hope
A trade post located on the Mountain River, about 50 miles south of town.

Fort Good Hope
(1805 - 1918), Fort Good Hope
A North West Co. post, then a Hudson's Bay Co. post in 1822. Also known as Fort Charles. This was the oldest trade post in the lower Mackenzie River Valley, and also the most northerly post of the North West Company. It was relocated at least five times along the Mackenzie River. The NWC post was originally located somewhere between the mouths of the Peel River and the Arctic Red River. The HBC moved the post about 100 miles upriver in 1823. In 1826 the post was moved further upriver to the present vicinity of Fort Good Hope. It was relocated twice in 1836.

The RCMP also later established a post here sometime before 1940 (date ?).

Arctic Red River Posts
(1900's - unknown), Arctic Red River (Tsiigehtchic)
An HBC post was established soon after a mission was first established here in 1895. The community was renamed in 1994.

A NWMP / RCMP post was also later established sometime before 1940 (date ?).

Fort McPherson (National Historic Site)
(1840 - 1940), Fort McPherson
A Hudson's Bay Co. post, also known as Peel River Post, originally located about four miles upriver from the present community. Relocated in 1848.

The North West Mounted Police established a post here in 1902. It became an important base for exploration and patrolling the Northern Arctic territories of Canada. The NWMP's "Lost Patrol" was found frozen to death near here, about 40 km away, in March 1911.

Aklavik Posts
(Pokiak Territorial Historic Site)
(1912 - 1935), Aklavik
A Hudson's Bay Co. post (HBC records cover 1929 - 1935). The first post here was actually located across the river in Pokiak (Old Aklavik) in 1911.

The RCMP also later established a post here sometime before 1940 (date ?).

Tununuk Post ? ?
(1929 - unknown), Tununuk
A trade post located on the southern end of Richards Island in the Mackenzie River delta.

Kittigazuit Post
(Kittigazuit Archaeological Sites National Historic Site)
(1912 - 1933), Kitigaaryuk, Kittigazuit Island
A Hudson's Bay Co. post (HBC records cover 1925 - 1926) on an island at the mouth of the Mackenzie River. The ruins of a log house and ice house once used by the HBC are still extant.

Tuktoyaktuk Posts ?
(1934 - unknown), Tuktoyaktuk
A trading post (HBC ?) and mission was established here in 1934.

A RCMP post was established sometime prior to 1940.

Nicholson Peninsula Post ? ?
(1928 - unknown), near Nicholson
A trade post located near the mouth of the Anderson River at Wood Bay.

Fort Anderson
(1861 - 1862),
A Hudson's Bay Co. post located at the great bend of the Anderson River, roughly 150 air miles north of Fort Good Hope.

Maitland Point Posts ?
(1936 - unknown), near Nicholson
A RCMP post located near Cape Bathurst.

A trade post (HBC ?) was also located here soon after (before 1940).

Baillie Island Posts
(1916 - 1935), Baillie Island
A Hudson's Bay Co. post on a small island in the Arctic Ocean at Cape Bathurst (HBC records cover 1926 - 1935).

The RCMP also later established a post here sometime before 1940 (date ?).

Letty Harbour Post
(1932 - 1935), near Paulatuk
A Hudson's Bay Co. post. The HBC closed the store here in 1959 and transferred it to Cape Parry.

Pearce Point Post
(1931 - unknown), near Paulatuk
A RCMP post, according to the "National Atlas of Canada" (1974).

Fort Brabant
(1927 - 1929), Victoria Island
A Hudson's Bay Co. post located at the head of Prince Albert Sound near the Nunavut border.

Alaervik Post
(1923 - 1928), Victoria Island
A Hudson's Bay Co. post on the north shore of Prince Albert Sound.

Holman Island Post
(1939 - unknown), Holman (Ulukhaktok), Victoria Island
A Hudson's Bay Co. post. The hamlet was renamed in 2006.

Fort Collinson
(1928 - 1935), Victoria Island
A Hudson's Bay Co. post located near the western tip of the island at the confluence of the Prince of Wales Strait and Minto Inlet. Relocated to Holman Island.

Walker Bay Posts
(1928 - 1939), Victoria Island
A Hudson's Bay Co. post on Victoria Island, just above Minto Inlet.

The Canalaska Trading Co. also had a post here from 1932 - 1938.

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