Archeology

1930s excavation of the depot area.

Photo courtesy of Minnesota Historical Society

 

The Early Days

Archeology has a long history here at Grand Portage National Monument (GRPO, or the Monument). As of this writing (2026) the first archeological investigation of a site associated with the Portage was completed over 103 years ago with an effort by the Minnesota Historical Society (MHS) to map visible remains of Fort Charlotte on the Pigeon River in 1922.

New Deal and the CCC-ID

During the Depression, the Civilian Conservation Corps allocated funds to reconstruct some of the North West Company (NWCo) depot through the Indivision (CCC-ID). In 1936-1937, the MHS and Works progress Administration (WPA) began major excavations and reconstruction work at the North West Company depot on Grand Portage Bay.

The Monument Begins

After the National Park Service approves Grand Portage National Monument, the MHS resumed field work in the 1960s and early 1970s, resulting in the discovery and reconstruction of the NWCo warehouse and kitchen structures. The MHS also conducted a remarkable series of underwater excavations at Fort Charlotte, resulting in the discovery of thousands of well-preserved fur trade artifacts from the bottom of the Pigeon River, and greatly improved understanding of fur trade material culture.

Recent Investigations

The NPS Midwest Archeological Center (MWAC) out of Lincoln NE, also conducted excavations and remote sensing work at Grand Portage, mostly in relation to compliance archeology projects such as the completion of park sewers, drain lines, and water line installation.

In 2000, the Institute for Minnesota Archeology (IMA) began a cooperative project with GRPO archeology staff to investigate the Grand Portage itself, surveying the 8½ mile portage corridor for archeological sites related to encampments, fur trade poses (rest stops), and watering holes. University research teams including archeologists from University of Minnesota, Lakehead University, and University of Wisconsin-La Crosse have also helped further our knowledge of Grand Portage's archeological heritage.

A New Era

A new era of archeological research was begun after the 2000’s by Monument archeologists, with an intensive excavation of the Lake Superior shoreline. The purpose of that project was to salvage archeological deposits, from the 18th and 19th centuries, that were under threat from shoreline erosion and loss. This project included archeologists from the Superior National Forest, Isle Royale National Park, and MWAC, as well as many volunteers and students. Soon after, archeological research picked up where the IMA/Grand Portage National Monument project of the 2000’s left off, in understanding the archeology of the Portage. Again, archeology staff from the Monument, as well as assisting archeologists from the previously mentioned agencies and a host of volunteers, began a more detailed look at pose sites initially discovered and mapped during the 2000’s. In addition, a previously unknown Indigenous site, of extremely ancient age (what used to be coined as, “prehistoric”), initially discovered by archeologists from the University of Wisconsin-La Crosse in 2007, was further investigated. That investigation is on-going.

Beyond the Fur Trade

By the 2010’s Monument archeologists began investigations into the historic remnants of the original Grand Portage reservation village. This area, located in a portion of the park known as the “Meadow” is a “site-complex” containing the sub-surface remains of numerous 19th and 20th century homesteads of Grand Portage community members, with associated out-buildings, garden areas, livestock pens, and utility buildings and housing once used by employees of the Bureau of Indian Affairs. This portion of the park was continuously occupied by people, beginning at least 2,000 years ago until the middle of the 20th century. In 2019, archeologists uncovered evidence of a previously undocumented black smith shop and in 2025 possibly uncovered some of the earliest 19th century buildings in the area. As has been the case these last 103 years, archeology work is on-going.