Fort Union Trading Post National Historic Site • MT,ND

View from Missouri River bottoms of Southwest bastion

Candles illuminate the Bourgeois House porch at dusk

Courtyard of Fort Union Trading Post with Bourgeois House, Tipis and US Flag

View of Fort Union and the Missouri River looking south

White canvas tipis in grassy area, Fort in background.

Between 1828 and 1867, Fort Union was the most important fur trade post on the Upper Missouri River. Here, the Assiniboine and six other Northern Plains Tribes exchanged buffalo robes and smaller furs for goods from around the world, including cloth, guns, blankets, and beads. A bastion of peaceful coexistence, the post annually traded over 25,000 buffalo robes and $100,000 in merchandise.

Viewing Fort Union Trading Post from the Missouri River bottoms one can imagine how grandiose the site would appear to weary steamboat travelers.
NPS Photo / Kris Baxter

Volunteer reenactors relax on the Bourgeois House porch
NPS Photo / Kris Baxter

Ranging from employee housing, workshops, storage warehouses, domestic animal pens and horse corrals, the courtyard housed the world at Fort Union.
NPS Photo

Visitors hiking the scenic Bodmer Trail experience a historical view of Fort Union, and the same view painted by Karl Bodmer in 1833.
NPS Photo / Leif Halvorson

During the height of the spring trade season camps from various Upper Missouri Tribes would fill the plateau around Fort Union.
NPS / EMILY SUNBLADE

Two people walk in a field towards a white walled Fort.

Are you ready to explore Fort Union Trading Post NHS? Use these 10 tips to plan your trip like a Ranger!

Map showing acreage of Fort Union Trading Post

Get all the information you need to plan your trip to Fort Union Trading Post NHS!

Man stands behind birchbark canoe talks to visitors

Come and participate in the upper Missouri’s finest fur trade fair at one of the West’s grandest historic sites!

American Indian Interpreter in full regalia speaking to seated visitors.

Find all Fort Union's special event dates here.

Men and Women on both horseback and foot walking through hills to Fort Union

Explore the history of Fort Union Trading Post here!

View of active archeological digs.

How was the fort built and from what materials? Archeologists needed to unearth the answers before the fort could be accurately rebuilt.

Man interviewing facing camera, second man watching playback on two small video screens.

Uncover Fort Union's rich history and explore our visual media collection for more fascinating content!

Child playing with wooden Tic-tac-toe board

Learn about our Jr. Ranger and Jr. Trader programs and find our do at home activities.

Park Ranger points out items in museum display case to two Jr. Rangers

Learn all the available activities at Fort Union.

Profits generated by purchases donated to and used for interpretation and educational programming at Fort Union

Last updated: May 27, 2025

Contact Info

Mailing Address:

15550 Highway 1804
Williston, ND 58801

Phone:

701 572-9083

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