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Fort Union Trading Post National Historic Site

Michael has a BA in History & American Studies and an MSc in American History from the University of Edinburgh. He comes from a proud military family and has spent most of his career as an educator in the Middle East and Asia. His passion is travel, and he seizes any opportunity to share his experiences in the most immersive way possible, whether at sea or on the land.

Part of our in-depth series exploring Sioux Nation Forts

Fort Union Trading Post
15550 Highway 1804
Williston, ND 58801
Phone: 701-572-9083
Fax: 701-572-9083
http://www.nps.gov/fous
Email: [email protected]

Missouri River’s preeminent fur trading post from the 1820’s to the Civil War, Fort Union was a colorful mix of river boaters, fur traders, Plains Indian tribes and frontier capitalists.

John Jacob Astor's American Fur Company built Fort Union Trading Post in 1828 near the junction of the Missouri and Yellowstone rivers in what is now North Dakota. In it's heyday, the post was a busy place and employed up to 100 people and all employees were funished board and lodging free of charge. It became the headquarters for trading bison hides and other furs with the Assiniboin Indians to the north, the Crow Indians on the upper Yellowstone and the Blackfeet who lived farther up the Missouri.

Bourgeois House, once the setting of elegant dinners for distinguished guests, is now a visitor center. Fort Union straddles the Montana-North Dakota border. Open daily.

Picture of Fort Union
Photo of Fort Union from the book,
Encyclopedia of American Indian Wars
, by Jerry Keenan.
Directions

Fort Union is 15 miles SE of Bainville, Montana; 21 miles north of Sidney, Montana; 25 miles SW of Williston, North Dakota. The historic site sits astride the Montana/North Dakota state line.

Season of Operation

All Year

Hours of Operation

Year round: 9:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.

Services and Amenities

Air Conditioning
Books
Childrens Activities
Gift Shop
Handicapped Accessible
Maps
Merchandise
Parking
Pay Telephone
Public Restroom
Registered Historic Site
Unescorted Tour
Tour

Activities

American Heritage
Archaeology
Cultural
Exhibit
Heritage
Historic
Museum
Native Art
Tour
Western Art
Lewis and Clark

Communities and Related Links
Fort Union Web Site
Fort Union NPS Web Site
Williston, ND

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