Fort Union Trading Post National Historic Site

Fort Untion Trading Post National Historic Site

"Fort Union Trading Post" by J. Stephen Conn is licensed under CC BY-NC 2.0

Quick Facts

Location:

Williston, ND

Significance:

Fort Union was the most important fur trading post on the upper Missouri, 1828-1867

Designation:

National Historic Site

Amenities

5 listed

Benches/Seating, Gifts/Souvenirs/Books, Historical/Interpretive Information/Exhibits, Information - Ranger/Staff Member Present, Telephone

Lewis and Clark NHT Visitor Centers and Museums

Visitor Centers (shown in orange), High Potential Historic Sites (shown in black), and Pivotal Places (shown in green) along the Lewis and Clark National Historic Trail

Located near the confluence of the Missouri and Yellowstone Rivers in Williston, North Dakota, Fort Union Trading Post National Historic Site is a reconstruction of Fort Union, a prosperous trading post from 1828 to 1867. 

Situated on a gravel bank high above the river to evade annual flooding, Fort Union was a key fur trading post along the Upper Missouri that facilitated the trade of over a hundred thousand dollars of items annually. Within its high walls lived an internationally diverse group of individuals and traders that intermingled with people from the Upper Missouri River tribes.  

In 1966, Congress established Fort Union as a historic site to commemorate the significant role the trading post played in American history. Reconstruction on the remnants of the old fort began in the winter of 1986 and, in the summer of 1987, the reconstructed Post Managers’ house was unveiled. From then on, the building has served as the site’s visitor center.  

Today, the Fort Union Trading Post offers a unique glimpse into the history of American trade. The trading post is open daily and provides education on Fort Union’s significance. Call 701-572-9083 for more information.