Ontario's Historical Plaques

at ontarioplaques.com

Learn a little Ontario history as told through its plaques

Fort William

There are two plaques about this fort.
Both can be seen on this page.

Fort William

Photo by contributor Parks Canada - Posted December, 2011

Fort William

Photo from Google Street View ©2011 Google - Posted December, 2011

Plaque Location

The District of Thunder Bay
The City of Thunder Bay
Just in from the sidewalk on the north side of Vickers Park
on Arthur Street East, just east of Waterloo Street South


Coordinates: N 48 22.834 W 89 15.643

Map

Plaque Text

In aboriginal times the Kaministikwia river was an important link between the Great Lakes and the northwest, and from the late 17th century French posts here at its mouth served as bases for the penetration of the interior. Between 1804 and 1821 this was the depot from which the North West Company tapped the rich fur resources of half a continent. In 1875 construction was begun for the lake terminus of the Canadian Pacific Railway, and in 1883 the first grain from the prairies reached here for trans-shipment to the east. In 1905 a second transcontinental line, the Grand Trunk Pacific, was begun from here.




Fort William

Photo by contributor Parks Canada - Posted December, 2011

Fort William

Photo from Google Street View ©2011 Google - Posted December, 2011

Plaque Location

The District of Thunder Bay
The City of Thunder Bay
At the base of a pylon on the south side of McNaughton Street
across from McTavish Street


Coordinates: N 48 23.404 W 89 13.899

Map

Plaque Text

When the boundary settlement of 1783 placed its major inland depot, Grand Portage, in U.S. territory, the North West Company was forced to seek a new site on British soil. Following the reopening of the Kaministikwia route a new post, later named for William McGillivray, the principal Montreal Agent, was constructed here at the river's mouth. Here each summer from 1803 to 1821 the Montreal and wintering partners held council, while trade goods were readied for the Indian country and furs brought down for shipment to Montreal. After 1821, changed supply patterns led to Fort William's gradual decline.




Related Ontario plaques
The Kaministikwia Route
Fort Kaministiquia 1717
The North West Company Post
The North West Company
The Grand Portage
William McGillivray 1764-1825

More
Information

More
Trading Posts





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