North Dakota centennial blue book, 1889-1989 - Page 542

• Language: unknown
• Subjects: Indian; Rudolph; assiniboine
• Online Access: http://cdm16921.contentdm.oclc.org/cdm/ref/collection/ndbb/id/6246

542 NORTH DAKOTA CENTENNIAL BLUE BOOK FORT UNION TRADING POST NATIONAL HISTORIC SITE In the southwest corner of Williams County lies the site of the Fort Union Trading Post. John Jacob Astor's American Fur Company built Fort Union in 1829 near the junction of the Missouri and Yellow­stone rivers. The post soon became headquarters for trading beaver furs and buffalo hides with the Assiniboine Indians to the north, the Crow Indians on the upper Yellowstone and the Blackfeet who lived farther up the Missouri. Fort Union was the largest and most imposing trading post on the Mis­souri. For years it was the limit of navigation for the river steamboats. The forts early success was due to Kenneth McKenzie, an experienced trader and able executive for the American Fur Company. He began construction on the fort in the autumn of 1829. Fort Union was constructed for protection rather than military use. It stood on a grassy plain that stretched away to the north for a mile, thus providing ample space for Indian camps at trading time. Many of America's foremost frontier artists spent time at Fort Union. They include Ceorge Catlin, John James Audubon. Karl Bodmer and Rudolph F. Kurz. During the early years, trade at the fort was brisk. Trade declined due to smallpox epidemics among the Indians in 1837 and 1857, the replacement of silk hats for beaver hats as a status symbol, the decima­tion of buffalo herds, and Indian hostilities following the Minnesota uprising of 1862. In 1864 Fort Union was abandoned and two years later the U. S. Army built Fort Buford a short distance downriver from Fort Union. In 1867, the army dismantled Fort Union. When the National Park Service acquired the property on which Fort Union was situated in 1966, the entire site was covered with grass. The Park Service excavated the stone foundations of the pali­sades, the main house and its kitchen, the Indian reception building, and the main gate, and has tested for most other buildings. Long- term plans call for the partial reconstruction of the Fort Union Trading Post and the development of exhibits which interpret the site and its structures. The reconstruction is scheduled for completion in 1989. The surrounding lands will be controlled to provide an authentic setting of mid- 19th century river, plains and hills. The Fort Union Trading Post National Historic Site can be reached via U. S. 2 and county road 4 from Williston, a distance of 24 miles southwest of that city. The fort is open daily from 9 a. m. to 5: 30 p. m. except Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year's Day. Visitors are invited to inspect the area, but are asked to leave the site intact and not to remove any stones, artifacts or other material.