Fort Union Trading Post National Historic Site
North Dakota
Fort Union Trading Post National Historic Site is a partial reconstruction of the most significant fur trading post on the Upper Missouri River, active between 1829 and 1867. Located near the confluence of the Missouri and Yellowstone Rivers on the North Dakota-Montana border, the site interprets the fort as it appeared around 1851, based on archaeological findings and contemporary drawings by Swiss artist Rudolf Kurz. Established by the American Fur Company under John Jacob Astor's leadership, Fort Union was a central hub for fur trade involving numerous Northern Plains tribes such as the Assiniboine, Crow, Cree, Ojibwe, Blackfoot, Hidatsa, and Lakota. The fort facilitated trade in buffalo robes, furs, firearms, cloth, and other goods, serving as a peaceful marketplace and symbol of U.S. sovereignty in the region. Notable historic visitors included John James Audubon, Sitting Bull, and Jim Bridger. The fort was dismantled in 1867, with its logs repurposed for Fort Buford. Today, the site offers visitors insight into frontier life, indigenous trade relations, and the economic growth of the American northwest during the 19th century.
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Tipp: Plan your visit during late spring to early fall for the best weather and full access to outdoor exhibits. Purchase tickets or join ranger-led tours in advance to ensure availability. Take advantage of educational programs like the Jr. Ranger and Jr. Trader activities for families. Check the official National Park Service website for current conditions and special events such as the Fort Union Rendezvous, a historic fur trade fair. Note that the site is remote, so prepare accordingly with provisions and transportation.
Interessante Fakten
- •Fort Union annually traded over 25,000 buffalo robes and $100,000 in merchandise during its peak.
- •The fort was a place of relative peace, with fewer conflicts between Euro-American traders and Native tribes than among the tribes themselves.
- •Swiss artist Rudolf Kurz, who worked as post clerk in 1851, created valuable contemporary drawings used in the fort's reconstruction.
- •The fort maintained a large inventory of English-made "North West Gun" flintlock firearms preferred by Northern Plains Indians for hunting.
- •In May 2025, the fort was the site of a rare armed occupation incident, which ended with the surrender of the individual by SWAT negotiators.
Geschichte
Fort Union was built in 1828 or 1829 by the Upper Missouri Outfit managed by Kenneth McKenzie and capitalized by John Jacob Astor's American Fur Company, establishing a near-monopoly on fur trade.
Throughout the 1830s and 1840s, it was the busiest trading post on the Upper Missouri River, facilitating trade between Euro-American traders and various Native American tribes.
The trade evolved from beaver pelts, popular in Europe for hats, to buffalo robes as fashion changed.
The fort was dismantled in 1867, with materials used to build Fort Buford.
It was designated a National Historic Landmark in 1961 and reconstructed based on archaeological research and historical drawings.
Ortsführer
Reconstructed Fort Buildings1851
Partial reconstruction of Fort Union’s buildings as they appeared in 1851, based on archaeological excavations and drawings by Rudolf Kurz. Visitors can explore living quarters, trading rooms, and fort defenses to understand frontier life and trade operations.
Trading Post Exhibit
Exhibits showcasing the fur trade goods exchanged at the fort, including buffalo robes, firearms, beads, cloth, and tools. Explains the economic and cultural significance of trade between Native American tribes and Euro-American traders.
Visitor Center and Museum
Features artifacts recovered from the site, interpretive displays about the fort’s history, and educational programs such as Jr. Ranger activities. Provides context on the fort’s role in U.S. frontier expansion and Native American relations.
Kontakt
Telefon: (701) 572-9083
