Fort Nisqually was established by the Hudson’s Bay Company (HBC), a London-based fur trading company, on Puget Sound in present-day Washington state in 1833. Fort Nisqually was intended to trade with the Southern Coast Salish Indians. By 1839, the fur trade had declined and the Puget Sound Agricultural Company (PSCAC) was established at Fort Nisqually to raise cattle, sheep, and horses along with crops such as wheat, oats, barley, and peas on the 160,000 acres of land claimed by the company. In 1855, HBC sold its holdings to the United States government.
According to the Museum:
“Established in 1833, Fort Nisqually was a commercial outpost of the sprawling Hudson’s Bay Company, the British fur trading enterprise that had spread across British North America (Canada) and areas of the northern United States. Although the fort’s original purpose was to trade imported goods for furs, by the 1840s it had become a thriving agricultural center.”
The Fort Nisqually Living History Museum is a reconstruction of the fort which was started in the 1930s by the Works Progress Administration (WPA). Two of the fort’s original structures—the Factor’s House and the Granary—were moved from the original site of the fort to the museum. The museum gives visitors a glimpse of life in the fort in 1855.
The Men’s Dwelling House was a row house which was divided into three apartments, each with a separate fireplace. Working men were housed in each apartment. Today the building houses the Visitor Center while the exterior of the 50-foot-long building shows how it would have looked in the 1850s.
According to the display:
“Decorated bags with trade beads were typical personal possessions among the Native and European employees of the Hudson’s Bay Company, serving the same purpose as a modern purse or pocket.”
According to the display:
“Made from a pewter-like alloy, this small spoon was brought to the Fort Nisqually area by Red River Settlers in 1842. It became a treasured family heirloom.”
According to the display:
“Made of twined cedar, this Coast Salish hat was designed to repel water and provide shade. Woven hats were worn by Native Americans even after the arrival of European-style clothing.”
Historic Images
A binder carries many images of Fort Nisqually.
More museums
Fort Nisqually: The Granary (photo diary)
Fort Nisqually: The Kitchen area (photo diary)
Museums 101: The Big House at Fort Vancouver (Photo Diary)
Museums 101: The Fort Vancouver Surgeon's Quarters (Photo Diary)
Museums 101: The Blacksmith Shop at Fort Vancouver (Photo Diary)
Museums 101: Historic Archaeology at Fort Vancouver (Photo Diary)
Fort Missoula: Homestead cabin (photo diary)
Fort Missoula: Noncommissioned Officer's Quarters (photo diary)