Northern Minnesota

Last Update: 29/DECEMBER/2024

Compiled by Pete Payette - Š2024 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.

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 ?), near Taylor's Falls
An otherwise unnamed British or French-Canadian trading post, possibly of the North West Company.

This may or may not be the same post as the Standing Cedar Post (undated), supposedly located on the St. Croix River just below present-day Saint Croix Falls, WI, or possibly as far south as Franconia.

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

Pokegama Lake Posts
(North West Company Fur Post State Historic Site)
(1804 - 1805), Pokegama Lake
A North West Co. post was here first. A modern reconstruction of the stockaded fur trading post and Ojibwe dwellings are located on the Snake River west of Pine City.

The American Fur Co. had a post here or nearby on the Snake River several years later. Possibly also known as Snake River Post (a) (1830's).

Henry Rust's Post
(1845 ?), near Brunswick, Kanabec County
A trading post located about two miles above the mouth of the Groundhouse River (on the Groundhouse River ?, or on the Snake River ?).

William Aitken's Post
(1850), 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 (October 1805 - March 1806) 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 Lennox
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) (near the mouth of the Crow River); and Henry Rice's Post (date ?). An unnamed post is shown on the east bank of the Mississippi River opposite the Crow River mouth on an 1848 Fort Ripley Military Reservation map.

Fort Biddle
(1826), near Crow Wing
An American Fur Co. post located on Crow Island in the Mississippi River.

Crow Wing River Posts
(1771, 1790), near Pillager ?
A wintering post of North West Co. traders in 1771 (James McGill) and 1790 (Jean Baptiste Perrault).

Platte Lake Post
(1831), Platte Lake
An American Fur Co. post located at the head of the Platte River, in the southeast corner of present-day Crow Wing County.

Rum River Posts (1) ? ?
(unknown dates), near Bayview ?, near Onamia ?
A "French" (French-Canadian ?) fur trade post was supposedly located on the south shore of Mille Lacs Lake, and another was located a little ways down the Rum River, possibly at or near Lake Onamia.

Mille Lacs Lake Post
(1820), near Malmo
An American Fur Co. post located on the northeast shore of the lake.

Snake River Post (b)
(1830's), near Pliny ?
An American Fur Co. post was supposedly located at a lake at the head of the Snake River, east of Mille Lacs Lake in present-day Aitken County. This was most likely in actuality the post at or near Pokegama Lake near Pine City (see above).

Cedar Lake Post
(1806), Cedar Lake, near Aitkin
A North West Co. post located on the north shore of Cedar Lake at Cedar Creek. Site located west of town.

Pine River Fort
(1784, 1789), near Mission
A trade post on the Pine River, mentioned in 1784 and 1789. Undetermined exact location.

Whitefish Lake Posts
(1806, 1830), Whitefish Lake
The North West Co. had two posts here, one in ruins and another still occupied in 1806. An American Fur Co. post was here later around 1830. Undetermined exact locations.

Gull Lake Post
(1823 - 1830's), Gull Lake
An American Fur Co. post located at Gull Lake. Still operating in 1836. Exact location undetermined.

Benjamin Baker (independent) was trading here without a license in 1828.

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

Leaf River Posts
(1790's, 1830), near Central, Wadena County
Various trading posts were located along the Leaf River at various times: Jean Baptiste Cadotte's Post (1790's), Joseph Reaume's Post (1792), and Prescott's Post (date ?), at undetermined exact locations. An American Fur Co. post was also on the Leaf River around 1830.

Fort Bolivar
(1826), Leaf Lake
A Columbia Fur Co. trading post located on Leaf Lake, east of Otter Tail Lake.

Otter Tail Lake Posts
(1830's - 1860), near Ottertail
Several trading posts were once located here, around the northeastern shore of the lake at the portage between the Otter Tail River (at Otter Tail Lake) and the Leaf River (at Leaf Lake). 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

Rice Lake Post
(1803 - 1804), Rice Lake, Clearwater County
A winter post of William Morrison at "Lac La Folle" (Lower Rice Lake).

Lower Red Lake Posts
(1790, 1795, 1826, 1848), Lower Red Lake
A North West Co. post (winter 1794-95) was located on the west shore of the Lower Red Lake, about two miles south of the Red Lake River outflow. A Hudson's Bay Co. post, Red Lake House (1795), was established on the southern shore near Redby and the Mud River. Another North West Co. post (1790) was located on the eastern shore near the Battle River. An American Fur Co. post was later established on the eastern side of the lake in 1826. Another post was built in 1848 between this post and the mission station nearby.

John Cameron may have opened another N.W.Co. post here during the early 1800's.

Upper Red Lake Posts
(1784 - 1785), Waskish
A North West Co. winter post located at the mouth of the Tamarac River at the Upper Red Lake, occupied by Joseph Reaume. James Grant had a post here sometime before 1784.

Lake Bemidji Posts
(1785, 1832), Lake Bemidji
A 1785 British trade post was located on the east side of the lake. In 1832 an American trade post was located on the west shore at present-day Bemidji.

Leech Lake Posts
(1785 - 1818 ?, 1833), 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 stopover in February 1806 during his expedition 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.

The American Fur Co. had a post on Pine Point in 1833. An opposition company trade post, under William Johnston, was near the Pine Point post. Another American Fur Co. post (date ?) was located on Oak Point. Another trade post (1830's ?) was shown on the eastern shore of the lake.

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. Established during the "Leech Lake Affair".

Cass Lake Posts
(1794, 1798, 1820), Cass Lake
Two North West Co. trade posts were located here (formerly Upper Red Cedar Lake), at the entrance of the Red Cedar River and at the outlet of the Mississippi River, one 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 entrance.

Lake Winnibigoshish Posts
(1798, 1823, 1834), Lake Winnibigoshish
Originally a North West Co. trade post (Winnibigoshish House) was located here. An American trading post (1834 - 1848) was later located on Bowen's Point near 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 (1823 - 1830's) on the north shore at the mouth of the Pigeon River. Another trading post (date ?) was located on the western shore between the Mississippi River inlet and Sugar Lake (the NWC post ? or another ?).

Patchatchanban Post
(1785), Bowstring Lake
A North West Co. trading post, on the eastern shore of the lake at the inlet of the Bowstring River.

White Oak Lake Posts
(1791), White Oak Lake, near Deer River
Three unnamed independent (?) French-Canadian fur traders had posts at or near White Oak Point at White Oak Lake, as reported in 1791.

Cuthbert Grant's House
(1805), Grand Rapids
A British trader's post at Pokegama Falls, on the south bank of the Mississippi River. Lt. Zebulon Pike spent a night here in the fall of 1805 during his Mississippi River expedition.

Sandy Lake House (1)
(1794 - 1796/1812 ?), near Libby
A North West Co. stockaded post located on the west shore 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. In 1833 the site was occupied by a rival trader (named Abbott) in opposition to the American Fur Company.

The American Fur Co. post here (Sandy Lake Post (2)) (location ?) was built sometime between 1820 and 1832.

Prairie Portage Post
(1785), Prairie Lake
A North West Co. post located at the portage between the Prairie River (at Prairie Lake) and the St. Louis River (at Mirbat Creek ?), south of present-day Gowan.

Fond du Lac Post ?
(1811 - 1847), Fond du Lac
An American Fur Co. trading post once located in modern Fond du Lac Historic Park, across the St. Louis River from Nekuk Island. Likely closed in 1812, and possibly operated by the South West Co. between 1813-16, a joint American-British endeaver between the American Fur Co. and the North West Co.. It was reactivated in 1817 as a fully American post. Its abandoned ruins were removed by 1900. A 1922 stone monument marks the site. A replica fort was built upstream at Chamber's Grove Park in the 1930's, but was demolished in 1968. (see also Fort St. Louis, WISCONSIN)

Grand Marais Post
(1823 - 1824), Grand Marais
A trading post operated here or nearby for at least one winter.

Fort Charlotte
(Grand Portage National Monument)
(Grand Portage State Park)
(1778 - 1803), near Grand Portage
A North West Co. fur trade post, probably rebuilt in 1785. The stockaded trade fort proper was located at the western end of the portage trail, on the Pigeon River near Partridge Falls, and the stockaded depot was located at the eastern end of the portage at the landing on Lake Superior at Grand Portage Bay. Peter and David Grant (North West Co.) built a new post in 1793, a little to the east of the old post. A 1938 reconstruction of the trading post is now located in Grand Portage.

The XY Company operated the Grand Portage Post in 1797, also with posts at both ends of the portage trail. The American Fur Co. also built a post here later (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 Posts
(1844), Moose Lake
An independent American fur trade post by a Cleveland, OH firm. Located along the Pigeon River near Moose Mountain.

The Hudson's Bay Co. afterwards (1850's) had a post on this lake, presumably on the Canadian side.

Basswood Lake Posts
(1790's, 1840's), Basswood Lake, Lake County
Several French-Canadian trading posts were reported by Alexander Mackenzie on the islands and banks of Basswood Lake (Lake Sagaigan), or Lac du Bois Blanc. The Hudson's Bay Co. operated a post here in the winter of 1841-42, and probably longer. These posts, especially the HBC post, may have been located within present-day Ontario. (See also NORTHERN ONTARIO page)

Vermilion Lake Posts
(1793 - unknown, 1824 ? - 1866), near Tower ?, Vermillion Lake
A North West Co. trading post was originally here. The American Fur Co. operated another post here, almost due south of the NWC post, from at least 1824, under William Aitken, and was still shown here on an 1866 map as Roussain's Post. Located on the south shore of the lake, possibly near Pike Bay.

Little Vermilion Lake Posts
(1750, 1807 ? - 1820 ?), near Crane Lake
A French post is shown here on a 1750 map. The North West Co. had a post here in 1807-08, and was still shown here in 1820. Possibly located across the present-day international border in Ontario.

Rainy Lake Post
(1816 - 1820's ?), near International Falls
An American Fur Co. trading post located near the Rainy River's outlet to Rainy Lake. Also known as Isle House. It was still operating in 1823. Also known as Bouys Post.

Rainy River Post
(1794 - 1820 ?), near Wheelers Point ?
A North West Co. post was noted on the present-day Minnesota-side of the Rainy River at Lake of the Woods.

Fort St. Charles
(1732 - 1754), Magnusson Island
A French trade post located at the Northwest 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 - unknown), Warroad
An American Fur Co. post.

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

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

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)

Peter Grant's House (Fort)
(1791 - 1794 ? or 1796 ?), near St. Vincent
A North West Co. trading post located on the east side of the Red River, above (south of) 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 before 1798.

Black River Post
(1800 ?), near Mattson
A North West Co. (?) trade post located on the east bank of the Red River, just below the mouth of the Black River, an outpost of the Pembina Settlement in present North Dakota.

John Cameron's Post
(1803), near Fork, or 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, operated by Jean Baptiste Cadotte.

Southern Minnesota - page 1

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