Nestled on the banks of the Kaministiquia River, stands Fort William, the inland headquarters of the North West Company. One of the largest living history sites in North America, Fort William brings to life the excitement and drama of the 19th century fur trade. Come experience this unique place and time in history through the eyes of peoples past.
The inland headquarters of the North West Company, Fort William, is the world’s largest fur trading enterprise, with trading posts reaching across North America. This is a place where cultures meet, and relationships are forged between Indigenous Peoples and non-Indigenous newcomers. Fort William stands on the traditional territory of the Anishinaabeg, the Indigenous Peoples who live in harmony with Nimaamaa Aki (Mother Earth). The Anishinaabeg share their invaluable knowledge, technologies and skills, and exchange furs and other natural material goods for European goods to ensure their European partners’ survival and the success of the North West Company.
As you begin your journey, you will come across the Anishinaabe Encampment, which is home to some of the local Ojibway, Indigenous Peoples who are part of the Anishinaabe nation. During the fur trade, Indigenous Peoples shared their invaluable knowledge and skills with their European partners to help them navigate life in the wilderness, discover trading routes and supplied them with the sought-after furs. As you explore the encampment you will learn about the traditional lifestyle, culture and heritage of the Ojibway.
Continuing along the path, you will come to the majestic Fort William. Alive with the hustle and bustle of an active fur trade post, you may see voyageurs loading in supplies and loading out furs to take back to Montreal, farmers working in the gardens, artisans building canoes, and so much more! Each summer, French-Canadian voyageurs, Scottish businessmen, Indigenous Peoples, and others from various places around the world gather at Fort William for the Great Rendezvous to discuss business, share news and renew friendships.
There are many things to see and do while exploring Fort William! Visit the Fur Stores to test your strength by lifting a fur pack, purchase handmade artisan bread in the Bakery, and visit the Trade’s Square to see a tinsmith creating cups and decorative lanterns, and the cooper making barrels. Head over to the Farm to see the latest additions including chicks, piglets and lambs. You can also visit the Apothecary to get a fascinating comparison of Indigenous and European medicines. Climb the Observatory Tower and gaze upon the impressive headquarters of the North West Company, the largest fur trade post in the world.
The length of your visit depends on your interest level and the tour options available at the time of your visit. Guided tours are approximately 1.5 hours in length and are offered September through June. During July and August, you are welcome to explore the Historic Site at your own pace. Many guests spend a half or full day exploring the site.
Admission tickets are required to visit any location on the Historic Site, including the Farm. During your guided tour, you may request to have a longer visit at a particular location. Your tour guide will do their best to accommodate the entire group’s interests. Self-guided tours are available during July and August; during this time, you are welcome to explore the Historic Site at your leisure.
Self-guided tours are available during July and August. During the summer season, we have a variety of scheduled daily activities alongside the many historical buildings which feature historical characters from Fort William’s fur trade era that you can meet and interact with during your visit.
Guided tours are available September through June. During a guided tour, you are escorted through the Historic Site by one of our fur trade historical characters. We highly recommend our guided tours to learn about many of the hidden gems across the Historic Site.
First person interpretation is when a character tells a story from their perspective. They may be speaking about themselves or sharing events that they are experiencing. Fort William Historical Park’s historical characters use first person interpretation to present their life and experiences at and around Fort William circa 1815.
Fort William Historical Park offers virtual experiences in English, French and Oji-Cree that can be accessed via QR codes from any device with an internet connection while visiting the Historic Site. QR codes are located at the entrance of various historic buildings and once scanned, will direct you to additional interpretations that include sound and video. Fort William Historical Park provides visitors access to its free Wi-Fi network, simply request the log-in and password at the Visitor Centre.
Availability of French language tours depends on the season. We always try our best to accommodate requests. If you would like a French language tour and know when you are visiting, please contact us, (807) 473-2344 or [email protected], to make arrangements.
We also have an overview handout about Fort William Historical Park available in the following 18 languages: Anishinaabemowin (Eastern Ojibway), Arabic, Dutch, Eastern Ojibway, English Braille, Finnish, French, German, Gujarati, Hindi, Italian, Japanese, Korean, Malayalam, Oji-Cree, Punjabi, Spanish, Chinese, and Tagalog.
Fort William Historical Park offers virtual experiences in English, French and Oji-Cree that can be accessed via QR codes from any device with an internet connection while visiting the Historic Site. QR codes are located at the entrance of various historic buildings and once scanned, will direct you to additional interpretations that include sound and video. Fort William Historical Park provides visitors access to its free Wi-Fi network, simply request the log-in and password at the Visitor Centre.