Grand Portage National Monument
Nestled in the northeastern tip of Minnesota, a region affectionately known as the "Tip of the Arrowhead," lies Grand Portage National Monument, a site steeped in history and cultural significance. This national monument serves as a powerful testament to the intertwined stories of the Ojibwe people, the intrepid voyageurs, and the bustling fur trade that once dominated the region. It’s a place where the echoes of the past resonate, offering visitors a tangible connection to a pivotal era in North American history.
The monument’s significance stems from its strategic location on the Grand Portage, an 8.5-mile overland trail that circumvented the formidable Pigeon River Rapids. This portage, known to the Ojibwe as Kitchi Onigaming, or the Great Carrying Place, was a crucial link in the vast network of waterways and trails that facilitated the fur trade. For centuries, it served as a gateway into the heart of Canada’s rich fur country, a vital artery for the transportation of goods and the exchange of cultures.
The story of Grand Portage National Monument is inextricably linked to the rise of the North West Company. Following the cession of Canada to Great Britain in 1763, ambitious traders ventured into the Canadian Northwest, eager to exploit the region’s abundant resources. Among these entrepreneurs was Simon McTavish, whose North West Company emerged as the dominant force in the fur trade between 1784 and 1803. While headquartered in Montreal, the company established its inland hub at the Grand Portage, recognizing its strategic importance for accessing the lucrative fur-bearing territories.
While various Indigenous groups, including the Cree, Sioux, Blackfeet, Beaver, and Chipewyan, participated in the fur trade across the Canadian Northwest, the Grand Portage has always been the traditional homeland of the Ojibwe people. Known also as the Anishinabe, they migrated to the Lake Superior region in the 1600s and established a deep connection with the land. Their resourcefulness and intimate knowledge of the environment were essential for their survival and played a vital role in the success of the fur trade.
The Ojibwe were skilled hunters, fishers, and gatherers, expertly utilizing the natural resources around them. As early as late winter, they would begin preparing for the upcoming seasons, harvesting wild rice, hunting game, and collecting plants for food, medicine, and clothing. Their ability to adapt to the harsh winter conditions was remarkable. They constructed unique winter lodges, approximately 20 feet long, 10 feet wide, and 7 feet high. These were warmer and larger than their cone-shaped summer lodges, accommodating extended families of up to three generations. Both types of lodges were constructed using the versatile and water-resistant birch bark.
Birch bark was also crucial in the construction of the Ojibwe canoes. These canoes, ranging from 25 to 35 feet in length, could carry up to 12 people and were essential for fishing, hunting, and transportation. Their design and construction were so effective that the French explorers quickly adopted them, recognizing their superiority for navigating the waterways of the region. The lightweight and speedy birch bark canoes gave the voyageurs access to the fur-bearing animals and wilderness.
The North West Company relied heavily on the expertise of the voyageurs, skilled canoe men who transported furs and trade goods between Montreal and the Canadian Northwest. These voyageurs were divided into two distinct groups: the "north men," or "winterers," who traversed the Northwestern territories of Canada, and the "Montreal men," or "pork eaters," who navigated the Ottawa River and the Great Lakes. Once the northern men completed their trade in the fur country, they would journey back to Lake Superior to meet the Montreal men at the company’s inland depot at the Grand Portage.
Established in 1784, the Grand Portage Depot served as the largest fur trading post in the region. Here, the "winterers" and "pork eaters" exchanged goods, gathered supplies, and prepared for their respective journeys. Although the original depot structures did not survive after the post’s abandonment, historical accounts and archaeological excavations have provided valuable insights into its daily life and overall design. These sources formed the basis for the reconstructed depot that visitors can explore today.
The reconstructed structures at Grand Portage National Monument offer a glimpse into the bustling activity that once characterized the depot. The Great Hall, where company partners dined and conducted business with Indians and clerks, stands as a testament to the power and influence of the North West Company. The Kitchen, located behind the hall, provided sustenance for the large number of people who frequented the depot. The Cedar-Picket Palisade and Warehouse served as a secure storage facility for valuable furs and trade goods. A fur press was used to compress the furs into manageable bundles for transport, and a lookout tower provided a vantage point for monitoring the surrounding area.
The annual gathering at the North West Company’s Grand Portage Depot, known as the Rendezvous, was a highly anticipated event. This winter gathering, whose name is a French word meaning "a meeting or assembly", brought together partners, clerks, traders, voyageurs, Indians, and anyone else connected with the company. It was a time for commerce, celebration, and the forging of relationships. Trappers, traders, voyageurs, and Indians displayed and traded furs, liquor, supplies, and other goods while dancing and feasting through the night. The partners and their guests typically dined and drank inside the Great Hall, while the Ojibwe, adorned in ceremonial garb, and the voyageurs, dressed in their finest attire, hosted their celebrations outside the palisade.
The Rendezvous marked the end of the long winter months and the beginning of a new trading season. Once the festivities concluded, the voyageur canoes would once again ply the Great Lakes, carrying goods and furs until the next Rendezvous. Although the Rendezvous at Grand Portage ceased when the North West Company abandoned the post in 1803, Grand Portage National Monument continues to honor this rich tradition with its annual Rendezvous, held during the second week of August in conjunction with the Pow Wow Rendezvous Days of the Grand Portage Band of Lake Superior Chippewa.
Visitors to Grand Portage National Monument are encouraged to begin their tour at the Heritage Center. This modern facility offers exhibits, multimedia programs, and artifacts that tell the story of the Ojibwe people and the fur trade. The Heritage Center also houses a bookstore, archives, and a classroom, providing visitors with a comprehensive understanding of the monument’s significance.
Beyond the Heritage Center, visitors can explore the reconstructed depot on Lake Superior, wander through historic gardens, visit the Ojibwe village and voyageur encampment, stroll along the dock, and tour the site’s three log buildings: the Great Hall, canoe warehouse, and kitchen. Other popular activities include hiking the Mount Rose Trail, picnicking beside Lake Superior at the historic "pork eater’s" camp, participating in ranger-led walks, and becoming a Grand Portage Junior Ranger Voyageur.
Grand Portage National Monument, a unit of the National Park System, is located within the Grand Portage Indian Reservation in Minnesota’s northeastern "Tip of the Arrowhead," approximately ½ to 1 mile south of the west and east exits from Minnesota State Highway 61 in the village of Grand Portage, Cook County, MN.
Contact Information:
Grand Portage National Monument
P.O. Box 426
Grand Portage, MN 55605
(218) 475-0123
https://www.nps.gov/grpo/index.htm