Interesting items

Lower Fort Garry

Build by the hudson’s bay company

In 1826 a flood completely destroyed the headquarters of the Hudson’s Bay Company in what is now the city of Winnipeg, the company decided to rebuild on higher ground. This is how the “Lower Fort Garry” was built. 

However, the fort never became the administrative center for which it was intended, since most of the regional population was located near The Forks (confluence of the Red River with the Assiniboine River) and opposed the additional travel required to do business in the new fort. As a result, Upper Fort Garry was rebuilt in stone at The Forks, close to the original Fort Garry site.

British troops were stationed there in the 1840s. Opponents of Louis Riels also stayed there in 1871. The North-Western Canadian Mounted Police trained their recruits there. He later served as a penitentiary and asylum. 

It also served to sign the first treaty between the Government of Canada, the Ojibway (Saulteaux) and the Swampy Cree. 

The fort still has its original walls, ramparts, ammunition batteries and residences that together make up the largest collection of original 19th-century Canadian fur trade buildings. 

It has been owned by the Government of Canada since 1958. It is one of Ten Great Canadian Hallmarks.

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