Tour Fort Union Trading Post

Tour through history— for a moment close your eyes and imagine. Assiniboine or other Northern Plains Tribes are camping in large tipi villages all around the site. Hear the sounds of children in the courtyard. American Indians, Metis, and fort employees converse in many different languages. The sounds of blacksmiths, carpenters, tinsmiths and other skilled laborers are amplified within the fort walls. Horses mingle with cattle while dairy cows, chickens, hogs, and goats are kept secure in pens under the palisade walls. This walking tour will help you better understand life at Fort Union by mapping out places where history took place.  

Details

Duration

30-120 Minutes

The self-guided walking tour duration can vary dependant on interest. Expect at least 1/2 hour to tour at a fast speed, 2 hours to tour at a leisurely speed.

Activity

Self-Guided Tours - Walking

Historically the fort was a bustling hub of activity, especially in the spring when steamboats arrived to resupply the fort and the Assiniboine and other Northern Indian Tribes arrive at the post to trade buffalo robes and other furs for manufactured trade goods. 

American Indian tribes, the Assiboine, Crow, Blackfoot and others would be camped in large tipi villages around the site and coming into the site to trade buffalo robes and other furs for various manufactured trade goods. Over one hundred employees would be working around the site, blacksmiths hammering, carpenters sawing wood, etc. 
 

Age(s)

5 and Older

All ages welcome, but recommended understanding and comprehension age is 5 and above. 

Pets Allowed

Yes

Leashed Pets are allowed in Fort Union's courtyard and reconstructed Trade House, Clerks Office and Southwest Bastion.

Service animals are permitted everywhere visitors are allowed at Fort Union Trading Post NH'S, including the Bourgeois House Visitor Center.

Activity Fee

No

Fort Union Trading Post NHS is a fee-free site, no fees are charged for entering the site or for the self-guided walking tour.

Location

Fort Union Trading Post Courtyard

Fort Union's Courtyard is located inside the Reconstructed Palisade and contains the entrances to all reconstructed buildings, ghosted structures and outlines.

Reservations

No

No reservations are needed to for the self-guided walking tour.

Season

Year Round

Self guided walking tour is available year round. Some tour locations may be inaccessible in winter due to heavy snowfall. 

Time of Day

Day

The self-guided walking tour is available whenever the site is open.

Accessibility Information

Navigating the Fort and Courtyard

• One manual wheelchair is available for use at fort site. Ask at the Front Desk in the Bourgeois House Visitor Center.

• The fort grounds and courtyard is packed gravel and grass. Muddy conditions may occur during wet weather.

• The Trade House has two steps to access, 7 inches and 11 inches, and a doorway opening of 34.5 inches. When the Trade House is open (summer season), the Living History Interpreter can exit the Trade House to give their interpretive program. The Bourgeois House Visitor Center also has a park video of a Trade House Talk with images and views into the Trade House.

• The Clerk's Office has an 35 inch wide entrance door, and a 1.5 inch threshold step.

• The South West Bastion is accessible only by a staircase to the second story.

• Visitor seating is available in front of the Clerks Office, at the back/north gate and on the Bourgeois House porch.

Service animals are permitted everywhere visitors are allowed at Fort Union Trading Post NHS