North West Company Fur Trading Post, Minnesota
Nestled along the banks of the Snake River, a short distance west of Pine City, Minnesota, stands a meticulously reconstructed monument to a bygone era: the North West Company Fur Trading Post. Now known as the Snake River Fur Post, this site offers a tangible glimpse into the vibrant and complex world of the North American fur trade, a period of intense intercultural exchange and economic activity that profoundly shaped the history of the Upper Mississippi River region. The reconstructed post serves as a portal, transporting visitors back to the winter of 1804-1805, when the original post bustled with the energy of voyageurs, traders, and the native Ojibwe people.
The story of the North West Company Fur Trading Post begins with the ambitious vision of John Sayer, a partner in the North West Company. In the fall of 1804, Sayer, accompanied by his crew of hardy voyageurs, embarked on a journey to establish a trading post in this strategic location. Their mission was to tap into the rich fur resources of the region and expand the reach of the North West Company, a formidable competitor to the Hudson’s Bay Company in the lucrative fur trade.
For over two centuries, the fur trade acted as a powerful catalyst, drawing together American Indians and European-Canadians in a shared pursuit. This enterprise centered on the exchange of valuable furs, skillfully trapped by the native population, for European manufactured goods, ranging from essential tools to coveted luxuries. This exchange wasn’t simply a business transaction; it was a complex interplay of cultures, skills, and dependencies.
The fur trade stands as the first significant international business exchange between the people of the Upper Mississippi River region and Europe. It was a distinctly multi-cultural undertaking, relying heavily on the specialized knowledge and abilities of individuals from vastly different cultural backgrounds. The success of the trade depended on the collaborative efforts of European traders, the Ojibwe, skilled hunters and trappers who prepared the pelts for trade, and the French-Canadian voyageurs, renowned for their strength, endurance, and expertise in navigating the waterways.
The American Indians played a pivotal role in the survival and prosperity of the European traders, introducing them to vital resources and techniques. They shared their knowledge of wild rice, corn, and other native foods, providing sustenance in a challenging environment. The ingenious birch bark canoe, a masterpiece of indigenous engineering, became the primary mode of transportation, enabling traders and voyageurs to traverse the vast network of rivers and lakes. The North West Company Fur Trading Post was one such location where this exchange thrived.
The driving force behind the initial European exploration and settlement of the Great Lakes region wasn’t the pursuit of a northwest passage to Asia or the conquest of new territories, but rather, the insatiable demand for a specific fashion accessory: the beaver hat. For approximately 200 years, the "beaver," as the hat was commonly called, reigned supreme as a symbol of status and style among fashionable Europeans. From the elegant tri-cornered hats of the late 1700s to the stately stovepipe top hats of the 1800s, the beaver hat was a staple of European attire.
While furs from rabbit and muskrat were also utilized, the beaver’s "wool," characterized by its unique interlocking barbs, was highly prized for its exceptional durability and resistance to the elements. This superior quality made beaver pelts the preferred material for crafting hats that could withstand the rigors of daily life and maintain their shape and appearance over time.
By this time, Europe’s beaver populations had been significantly depleted due to extensive overhunting. This scarcity created a surge in demand for beaver pelts from the New World, where fur-bearing animals thrived in abundance. To capitalize on this opportunity, French, British, and Scottish traders ventured into the North American wilderness, carrying with them a variety of manufactured goods. These items, including iron tools, kettles, knives, guns, cloth, beads, and other essentials, were offered in trade to the American Indians in exchange for valuable furs. The legacy of this exchange can still be felt today at the North West Company Fur Trading Post.
Following the British victory over the French in the French and Indian War in 1763, British and Scottish traders gained dominance in the fur trade. These traders, often referred to as bourgeois, were responsible for managing the day-to-day operations of the trading posts. They engaged in bartering with the American Indians, exchanging manufactured goods for furs.
The North West Company emerged in Montreal, Canada, during the mid-1780s, formed by a coalition of British merchants seeking to challenge the Hudson’s Bay Company’s near-monopoly over the fur trade. To establish a strong presence in the region, the North West Company constructed a large post at Grand Portage and several other forts to accommodate wintering voyageurs. In addition to the Snake River forts, they established trading posts at Fond du Lac (now part of modern Duluth), Big Sandy Lake, and Leech Lake in Minnesota.
By the 1790s, the Montreal-based North West Company had expanded its fur trade network from the St. Lawrence River Valley to the foothills of the Rocky Mountains. Scattered across this vast network of waterways were over 100 wintering posts, strategically located near Indian hunting and trapping camps, which served as the primary source of furs. One of the largest posts in the late 1700s was situated at Grand Portage on Minnesota’s Lake Superior north shore. The North West Company Fur Trading Post near Pine City was one of several smaller trading posts from which furs were shipped north to larger posts, such as Grand Portage and Fort William in what is now Canada.
A typical fort would consist of a dwelling for the clerk, a storehouse for goods, and a bunkhouse for the 10-20 voyageurs who spent the winter at the post. Throughout the winter months, the voyageurs would collect pelts of various animals, including beaver, otter, muskrat, deer, bear, marten, and others whose hides were commercially valuable. Dakota and Ojibwe men would hunt and skin the animals, while the women would prepare the hides by stretching and drying them. These prepared hides were typically considered the women’s property, and they would negotiate the sales with the clerk of the trading post. In exchange, the clerks would provide the Indians with trade goods, such as firearms, blankets, and cooking utensils. The furs were then sold to Europeans, who transformed them into felt hats and fur coats.
The fur trade was a collaborative endeavor involving individuals from vastly different backgrounds and experiences, from wealthy partners to hardworking clerks, colorful voyageurs, and skilled Native men and women. Each played a crucial role in the operation of the business and were dependent on one another for success.
In early September 1804, John Sayer, representing the North West Company, and his crew, including eight voyageurs and 4.5 tons of European-made goods, set out from Fort St. Louis near modern-day Superior, Wisconsin. Sayer’s destination was the southern edge of Ojibwe territory. The journey, which lasted more than two weeks, involved traveling up the Brule River, portaging overland to the Upper Lake St. Croix, paddling down the St. Croix, and then heading up the Snake River, where Sayer intended to establish a post near Cross Lake for his wintering operations. However, after consulting with Ojibwe leaders, he decided to change the location to a sandy ridge approximately two miles up the Snake River.
This location proved ideal for a trading post, as it was surrounded by forest, wetlands, and prairie openings. The area was abundant in wild rice, berries, and maple sap, and rich with game animals, including deer, bear, and beaver. The river teemed with fish, including lake sturgeon, bass, and walleye.
After settling at the chosen site, Sayer instructed his men to construct a six-room row house, which was then enclosed by a palisade. In just over six weeks, the post was completed. The row house included a storehouse for goods, a trading room for conducting business, and lodging for Sayer and his Native wife, his clerk, a servant (perhaps), and a crew of eight workmen, who would all spend the winter at the post. To celebrate the post’s completion, the men raised the flag, and Sayer gave each of his men a pint of rum.
In the weeks that followed, Sayer engaged in trade with the Ojibwe, exchanging goods for wild rice, maple sugar, meat, and furs. He sent his men out fishing and to visit the hunting camps, conferred with local leaders, and presented them with ‘gifts,’ as the tribe preferred to view the transactions of trade. He also provided credit to the hunters and accepted their furs in payment for the manufactured goods they purchased from him. Sayer meticulously documented his experiences in his journal nearly every day.
In the spring, after 223 days of trading along the Snake River, Sayer settled the debts, packed the furs, and departed with his men. The canoe voyage from the Snake River to Fort William took approximately 4 to 6 weeks and included a journey up the St. Croix River during the spring flood.
Historical records indicate that Sayer and his crew never returned to the post, although evidence suggests that it was used for several more years. In the 1930s, a local resident of Pine City discovered flint used for rifles, which eventually led to the excavation of the site in the 1960s. It was from Sayer’s journal and the archaeological excavation that the Minnesota Historical Society was able to reconstruct the past. This reconstruction provides a valuable resource for understanding the North West Company Fur Trading Post.
Today, the site of the North West Company Fur Trading Post is an authentically reconstructed post, representing the winter of 1804-05. Costumed guides offer interpretive tours of the site, transporting visitors back to the days when furs were traded under the British flag. The visitor center features exhibits, a great room with a large fireplace, and a gift shop.
The post was added to the National Register of Historic Places on August 7, 1972. In recent years, the site has been renamed Snake River Fur Post to reflect a broader historical narrative that encompasses more than just the North West Trading Company.
Contact Information:
Snake River Fur Post
12551 Voyageur Lane
Pine City, MN 55063
320-629-6356