Fort Union Trading Post National Historic Site

Fort Union Trading Post

View inside Fort Union Trading Post

Next stop - Medora, ND. The town itself is nice, and actually kind of cute, but the objective of this stop was to have a base to park the RV while sightseeing. One of our plans was a day trip to Fort Union Trading Post National Historic Site. This was a 2.5 hour drive north from Medora. It is right on the Montana/North Dakota border. Fort Union Trading Post was a major fur trading post (non-military) of the American Fur Company handling business for the upper Missouri River region. It was built on the Missouri River near the confluence of the Yellowstone River giving the best access of the entire northern waterways. The fort dominated the fur trade for 39 years from 1828-1867 and was an important part of American history. The current partial reconstruction was built on the foundation of the original fort and is very well done. The fort was built right on the edge of the river for easy loading of furs. However, the river has changed course so the fort is no longer right on the river.

Picture of the Fort when it was
in its prime. Note how close the Fort
is to the Missouri River.

Just a few miles away is the confluence of the Missouri and Yellowstone rivers. We enjoyed seeing the confluence and contemplate the importance that this point meant to the Corp of Discovery. The journals of the men made it very clear that they camped at this point and celebrated the milestone.

Picture of the Missouri River from
the Fort.

Panoramic pic of confluence. Missouri comes downstream
from right, Yellowstone coming downstream from the top
and the Missouri continues downstream to the left.