Northern Minnesota

Last Update: 10/APRIL/2016

Compiled by Pete Payette - Š2016 American Forts Network

Dakota War (Sioux Uprising) Defenses
(1862 - 1864), various locations
(see also Southern MN page, and Superior, WI listing)

Chisago County:
Chisago Lakes Fort, at or near Chisago Lake near Chisago City, a civilian defense.
Sunrise Fort, Sunrise, a civilian defense.

Pine County:
Chengwatana Post (1862 - 1865), near Pine City, an Ojibwe Indian village garrisoned by a detachment of the MN Volunteers until 1865. Located about one mile northeast of the present town, where the Snake River exits Cross Lake. The Old Military Road (aka Government Road) (built 1855) between Superior and Point Douglas, Wisconsin (Hastings, MN), ran through the area until replaced by the railroad in 1870.

Mille Lacs County:
Princeton Post (1862 - 1865), Princeton, possibly a civilian defense initially, garrisoned by the military until 1865.

Morrison County:
Little Falls Post, Little Falls, a civilian defense initially, at the Morrison County courthouse which was fortified in some manner, garrisoned by a military detachment from Fort Ripley before the end of 1862.

Crow Wing County:
Post at the Lower Chippewa Indian Agency, near Crow Wing, a military detachment post, a subpost of Fort Ripley, located about five miles up from the mouth of the Crow Wing River, on the north bank, just west of the Gull River, about 12 miles north of Fort Ripley. The Agency, consisting of several log cabins, was established here in 1853.

Clay County:
Fort Sanborn (1862 - 1863), Georgetown, a palisaded barracks originally built by the Minnesota Stage Company, taken over by a detachment of the MN Volunteers in 1863.

French Trading Post
(Interstate State Park)
(1802 ?), Taylor's Falls
An otherwise unnamed British or French Canadian trading post, possibly under the North West Company.

Maurice Samuels' Post
(1846), Sunrise
A fur trading post established by Maurice Samuels, located near Sunrise Island in the St. Croix River. Also known as Sunrise River Post. Consisted mainly of a single house and barn. Site excavated by the National Park Service.

North West Co. Fur Post (State Historic Site)
(1804 - 1805), Pine City
A reconstruction of a stockaded fur trading post and Ojibwe dwellings.

Pokegama Lake Posts
(1804 - unknown), Pokegama Lake
A North West Co. post was here first. The American Fur Co. had a post here several years later.

Watab Post
(1844 - 1855), Watab
A fur trade post located two and one-half miles north of the mouth of the Watab River.

Hazen Mooers' Post (2)
(1830's - 1835), near Bowlus
An independent trading post located across the Mississippi River opposite Royalton.

Little Rock Post
(1832 - unknown), Little Rock
An American Fur Co. post. Hazen Mooers relocated here in 1835.

William Aitken's Post
(1850 - unknown), Gregory
An independent trading post in Morrison County.

Pike's Fort (1)
(1805 - 1806), near Little Falls
A small 36-foot square stockaded fort and winter camp for 21 men built during Lt. Zebulon Pike's Expedition, located near the mouth of the Swan River. Also referred to as Pike's Stockade in some sources. It burned down 10 years later. The site was marked by a stone cairn in 1919, however the site became flooded by the Blanchard Dam in 1925. Excavations were done in 1984 while the dam was being repaired.

Fort Duquesne
(1752 - 1754), Little Falls
A French fur trade post located two miles north of town along the Mississippi River. The 80 by 120-foot ruins were discovered in 1983.

Fort Ripley
(Camp Ripley State Military Reservation)
(1848 - 1877), Fort Ripley FORT WIKI
Located within Camp Ripley (1929), a modern MN National Guard training post, directly opposite the town of the same name. Built to control and protect the Winnebago Indians after they resettled in the area. It was originally named Fort Marcy, then renamed Fort Gaines in 1849 until 1850. There were two blockhouses, a partial palisade, and several quarters and barracks around the parade ground that was open towards the river. The Winnebagos were relocated to Mankato in 1855. Briefly abandoned in 1857. Garrisoned by state militia troops during the Civil War. Abandoned in 1877 after a fire destroyed several buildings. Only ruins of a stone powder magazine remain above ground. Other building sites are marked. There is a marker and monument across the river in town. Public access to the historic site is restricted. Inquire in advance with Camp Ripley Public Affairs Office for guided group tours. Of interest on the Camp Ripley post is the Minnesota Military Museum. See also Historical Fort Ripley from Minnesota Treasures
See also Diary of Rev. Solon Manney, Fort Ripley Chaplain 1851 - 59 from Project Canterbury

Benjamin Baker's Post (2)
(1832), near Crow Wing
A fur trade post located two miles below the mouth of the Crow Wing River, on the east side of the Mississippi River.

Other trading posts were located nearby: Allen Morrison's Post (1823), Clement Beaulieu's Post (1837), and Henry Rice's Post (date ?), among others.

Fort Biddle
(1826 - unknown), Crow Wing
An American Fur Co. post located on Crow Island.

Crow Wing River Post
(1771, 1790), near Pillager
A wintering post of North West Co. traders in 1771 and 1790.

Mille Lacs Lake Post
(1820), near Malmo
An American Fur Co. post.

Wadena Post
(1850's), Wadena County
A trading post located on the west side of the Crow Wing River between the Leaf and Partridge Rivers.

Other trading posts were located in the general area at various times: Jean Baptiste Cadotte's Post (1790's), Prescott's Post (date ?), and Reaume's Post (1792) (undetermined locations).

Fort Bolivar
(1826 - unknown), Leaf Lake
A Columbia Fur Co. trading post located in Otter Tail County.

Otter Tail Lake Trading Posts
(1830's - 1860), Ottertail
Several trading posts were once located here. An American Fur Co. post was here until 1836. Another post was here in 1850 - 1860.

Fort Juelson (park)
(1876), near Underwood
A 120 by 100-foot square sod fort built by local settlers in response to the news of General George Custer's defeat at Little Big Horn, Montana (June 1876). There was never a real threat here. Site located in a small park with flagpole, one mile east of town on MN 210. See also Investigation of Fort Juelson from Archeao-Physics, L.L.C. || Short Biography of Berge Lee from Kroshus Family History

Red Lake House
(1790, 1795, 1800's ?, 1826), near Red Lake
Originally a North West Co. post located on the southwest corner of Lower Red Lake, west of town. A Hudson's Bay Co. post was established in 1795 on the southern shore near Redby and the Mud River. John Cameron may have opened another N.W.Co. post here during the early 1800's. An American Fur Co. post was later established at the lake in 1826.

Leech Lake Trading Posts
(1785 - 1818 ?), near Leech Lake
A North West Co. post was located on Otter Tail Point in 1785. Another North West Co. post was located further west about 1805. The second post was the scene of Lt. Zebulon Pike's expedition in 1806 to find the source of the Mississippi River (which was actually at Lake Itasca further west), where the British flag was ordered taken down and temporarily replaced by the American flag (Pike's Fort (2)). The international boundary here was not finally settled until 1818.

Camp at Leech Lake
(1856), near Walker
A temporary Federal camp.

Camp J. M. Bacon
(1898 - 1900), Walker
A U.S. Army post built as a result of the "Leech Lake Affair" of October 1898, the so-called "last battle" between U.S. troops and Native Americans (Chippewa / Ojibway).

Camp Wilkinson
(1898), near Onigum
A temporary MN National Guard camp located on Sugar Point, four miles northeast of Walker. Built during the "Leech Lake Affair".

Cass Lake Trading Posts
(1794, 1798, 1820), Cass Lake
North West Co. fur trade posts were located at the entrances of the Red Cedar River and the Mississippi River at Cass Lake (formerly Upper Red Cedar Lake), established by James Grant. Also known as Red Cedar Lake Posts. An American Fur Co. post was later located between these two sites and west of the Tongue River.

Winnibigoshish House
(1798, 1834), Lake Winnibigoshish
Originally a North West Co. trade post was located here. An American trading post was later located on Bowen's Point near Little Cut Foot Sioux Lake. A marker here mistakenly identifies the post to the Hudson's Bay Co.. The American Fur Co. also had a post (1820's - 1830's) at the mouth of the Pigeon River. Another trading post (date ?) was located between the Mississippi River inlet and Sugar Lake.

Patchatchanban Post
(1785), Bowstring Lake
A trading post, possibly of the North West Co..

Sandy Lake House
(1794 - 1796), near Libby
A North West Co. stockaded post located near the lake's outlet to the Mississippi River. It was 100 feet square, with two blockhouses, barracks, post factor's quarters, storehouse, and trading house.

Fond du Lac Post ?
(1811 - 1847), Duluth
An American Fur Co. trading post once located in Fond du Lac Park, across the St. Louis River from Nekuk Island. Probably operated by the South West Co. between 1813 - 16, a joint American-British endeaver between the American Fur Co. and the North West Co.. (see also Fort St. Louis, WISCONSIN)
(thanks to Paul Gaboriault for additional info)

Fort Charlotte
(Grand Portage National Monument)
(Grand Portage State Park)
(1765, 1778 - 1803), Grand Portage
A North West Co. fur trade post. The stockaded trade fort proper was located near Pigeon River, and the stockaded depot was located on Lake Superior at Grand Portage. A 1938 reconstruction of the trading post is now located in Grand Portage.

The XY Company operated the Grand Portage Post in 1797. The American Fur Co. also built a post here (1817 - 1840's). An independent British trade post may have been located here as early as 1765. The area is now part of the Grand Portage Indian Reservation.

Moose Lake Post
(1844), Moose Lake
A fur trade post by a Cleveland, OH firm. The Hudson's Bay Co. later had a post on this lake.

Roussain's Post
(1793 - 1866), Crane Lake
A North West Co. post, later a Hudson's Bay Co. post. Crane Lake was originally named Vermilion Lake.

Bouys Post
(1816 - unknown), Koochiching County
An American Fur Co. trading post located near Rainy Lake. Also known as Isle House.

Fort St. Charles
(1732 - 1754), Magnusson Island
A French trade post located near Angle Inlet, it was a 100 feet by 60 feet stockaded fort with bastions, with a chapel, commandant's house, missionary, enlisted barracks, warehouse, and a powder magazine. Excavated in 1908. A replica fort was first built in 1960. See also Fort St. Charles Memorial and Restoration || Lake of the Woods Historical Society

Warroad Post
(1820), Warroad
An American Fur Co. post.

Jerome Semat's Post
(1821 - 1840), Roseau County
An American Fur Co. post located on the Roseau River two miles above Roseau Lake.

Alex Groundmaster's Post
(1825 - 1851), Roseau County
A Hudson's Bay Co. trading post located on Roseau Lake.

Peter Grant's House (Fort)
(1791 - 1794 ? or 1796 ?), St. Vincent
A North West Co. trading post located on the Red River, opposite the mouth of the Pembina River. Shown on a 1791 British map, and said to have been the first North West Co. post on the Red River. Abandoned well before 1800.

Pembina House
(1801 - 1802 ?), St. Vincent
A Hudson's Bay Co. trading post may have been located here on the east bank of the Red River, opposite the mouth of the Pembina River, for a short time before it was re-established on the west bank of the Red River in 1803. (see also Pembina House, NORTH DAKOTA page 1)

John Cameron's Post
(1803), near Big Woods
A North West Co. trade post located on the Snake River ("Rivičre aux Marais"), an outpost of the Pembina Settlement in present North Dakota.

Vincent Roy's Post
(1794), Thief River Falls
An independent or North West Co. (?) trading post located at the confluence of the Thief and Red Lake Rivers.

Red Lake River Post
(1798), Red Lake Falls
A North West Co. trade post.

Southern Minnesota - page 1

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