Fort William Historical Park

Note to visitors Effective May 4, 2026, the Broadway Avenue entrance and walking trails are open for the season. Please use the Broadway Avenue entrance to access the Park; the King Road entrance is closed. Paid admission is required to access the Historic Site, including the Nature Trail.

Fort William Historical Park features Fort William, one of North America’s largest living history sites, and the David Thompson Astronomical Observatory, home to one of the largest publicly accessible telescopes in Central Canada. Fort William Historical Park also offers year-round festivals and events, an RV and tent campground, in-person, virtual and overnight education programs and wedding and conference facilities.

Historic Site Guided Tours

Open 7 days a week
10 a.m. to 5 p.m. (Last admission is at 4 p.m.)

Discover Fort William on your own and enjoy a variety of scheduled activities taking place throughout the day.

Open 7 days a week

Discover Fort William by guided tours led by one of its inhabitants. Tours last approximately 1.5 hours. Visitors are able to further explore Fort William after their tour.

English tour times: 10:15 a.m., 11 a.m., 11:45 a.m., 12:30 p.m., 1:15 p.m., 2 p.m., 2:45 p.m., 3:30 p.m., and 4 p.m.
French tour times: 11:30 a.m. and 2:30 p.m.

Plan Your Visit

Explore Fort William

Travel back in time to 1815 and discover Fort William. This is the inland headquarters of the North West Company, the world’s largest fur trading enterprise with posts stretching across North America. This is a place where cultures meet and relationships are forged between Indigenous Peoples and non-Indigenous newcomers. Come experience this unique place and time in history through the eyes of peoples past who lived and worked around Fort William!

Campground

Nestled on the banks of the scenic Kaministiquia River, the Fort William Historical Park Campground has plenty of room for RVs, trailers and tents of all sizes. Northern Ontario’s beautiful summer nights make for an amazing camping experience the whole family will enjoy!

Education

Fort William Historical Park offers extraordinary educational opportunities for learners of all ages. Our cross-curricular education programs offer immersive experiential and sensory activities to engage your students in a memorable learning experience.

Day Camps

Fort William Historical Park’s March Break and Summer Day Camps offer your child the opportunity to experience a variety of fun and exciting activities.

Land Acknowledgement

We respectfully acknowledge that Fort William Historical Park is located on the traditional territory of the Anishinaabeg of Anemki Wajiw (Thunder Mountain), Fort William First Nation, signatory to the Robinson-Superior Treaty of 1850. We also recognize the historic and ongoing contributions of all First Nations, Inuit and Métis across Mikinaak Minis (Turtle Island, North America). We appreciate the privilege to share a part of their storied past on the lands that First Peoples have kept since time immemorial.

Upcoming Events

The Great Rendezvous

July 10, 11 and 12, 2026

Hundreds of re-enactors from across North America converge to re-create the annual summer gathering held at Fort William over 200 years ago when it was the inland headquarters of the North West Company. The historic re-enactment will include artisan demonstrations, contests, and a grand canoe arrival.

Interested in being a re-enactor during the Great Rendezvous historical re-enactment?

Completed applications are due on July 5, 2026, by 4 p.m. There is no cost to be a re-enactor.

Celtic Day

July 19, 2026 – 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Free event

Join us for a Celtic celebration of culture, music, dance, hands-on activities, and great food! Featuring local pipe and drum bands and Highland dancers.

Anishinaabe Keeshigun

August 22, 2026 – 11 a.m. to 7 p.m.
August 23, 2026 – 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Free event

Celebrate First Nations culture at Fort William Historical Park! Join us for a free weekend filled with entertainment, hands-on activities and demonstrations that highlight Anishinaabe culture, traditions, language, and technology. This year’s event will also include a Pow Wow highlighting regional dancers and drum groups. A community feast will be held on Saturday and is open to all visitors.

Interested in being a dancer, craft vendor, or hosting an information booth?

Use the corresponding button below to learn more and complete the Application Form. If you require a different application format, please contact us. Registration for drum groups is day of. The first three registered drum groups that day will receive an honorarium.

Dancers

Applications will be accepted in advance and during the event. All dancers who register and attend the pow wow will receive an honorarium.

Craft Vendors

Completed applications are due on Monday, August 17, 2026, by 9 a.m. There is no cost to be a craft vendor.

Information Booths

Completed applications are due on Monday, August 17, 2026, by 9 a.m. There is no cost to host an information booth.

Taste of Fort William

September 6, 2026 – 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Explore history through multicultural fur trade era cuisine, cooking methods and tools, alongside iconic contemporary Thunder Bay foods.

Join Us

Discover current employment and volunteer opportunities at Fort William Historical Park.

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