| The Northwest Fur Company established historic Fort | | | | National Railroad. Today a reproduction of the depot |
| William in present day Thunder Bay, Ontario on the | | | | sits two-miles up river from the original site. |
| Kaministiquia River in 1803 as its interior headquarters | | | | Prepare to spend a day visiting the site. Guides in |
| and distribution center. The company's headquarters | | | | period clothing will take you around to the different |
| were originally in Grand Portage, Minnesota, forty miles | | | | buildings. They use first person interpretation and |
| Southwest. The company moved because it was an | | | | represent different characters that were there in 1815. |
| English company doing business on United States soil. | | | | Six years later, the company would be destroyed by |
| The US government wanted them to pay taxes on | | | | The Hudson Bay Company and would merge with |
| the fur they were exporting to Europe. | | | | them in a hostile takeover. |
| The predominate fur being traded was the beaver, | | | | Fort William Historic Park is a living history site. |
| which was used to make hats for the gentry in every | | | | Tradesmen, such as carpenters, canoe builders, black |
| major city in Europe. The beaver had been eradicated | | | | and tinsmiths, bakers, coopers, tailors, gunsmiths, etc., |
| in Europe, but were plentiful in North America, | | | | demonstrate their skills. Visitors are invited to |
| especially in Northern Canada. The Northwest | | | | participate in their work, using the period tools of their |
| Company's largest competitor was The Hudson Bay | | | | trades. |
| Company. They had the original British Royal Charter | | | | Outside the walls is a working farm with Percheron |
| for trading fur since 1670, but were only a quarter of | | | | horses, cattle, oxen, sheep, chickens and other farm |
| the size of the Northwest Company. The company | | | | animals. Also outside is a replica of an Ojibwe village |
| averaged over 90,000 beaver pelts per year for over | | | | with people to help the visitor understand the culture of |
| ten years. Simon McTavish and his partners became | | | | the Ojibwe Nation. |
| extremely wealthy. | | | | Back inside the stockade are a doctor's residence, |
| In 1804 McTavish died and his nephew, William | | | | operating room and apothecary. A sea captain's |
| McGillivray, became the Chief Director of the | | | | house, and various living quarters for the partners, |
| company. The distribution center took on his | | | | clerks and tradesmen. Not to be missed is the trading |
| personality. Whereas the Grand Portage location under | | | | post where the Natives would bring furs, wild rice, |
| the leadership McTavish consisted of approximately 17 | | | | maple sugar, and other commodities to be traded for |
| Spartan buildings, the Kaministiquia River location | | | | the European goods: metal products, textiles, and other |
| boasted 42 various buildings. Some of the buildings are | | | | conveniences. Go into the fur building and be |
| painted white. They even had a fire engine in case of | | | | overwhelmed by the variety and vastness of their fur |
| a dreaded fire. This was a showcase for the entire | | | | collection. Finally on the places to see is the Great Hall |
| world to see. | | | | or mess hall. This sits as the focal point of the depot. |
| The original site was near the mouth of the | | | | Here meals were served to the gentlemen and |
| Kaministiquia River and Lake Superior. That is not | | | | business was conducted for the company. |
| longer there and is a switching yard for Canadian | | | | |