Museum of the Fur Traders

On a previous trip, we visited the Museum of the Fur Trade but felt compelled to return. It is a fascinating place to see the world’s largest collection of artifacts from the early exploration of the northern portion of North America. The museum contains a plethora of

  • Indian weapons (some believed to be used at the Battle of the Big Horn),
  • Trading items (both Indian and white men),
  • Textiles (the single most important class of goods traded to American Indians), and
  • Books on trapping and trading.

It’s hard to believe, but the first group of traders and trappers were already in the area before the arrival of the Pilgrims.

An example to trade prices in 1842 was:

  • Flintlock gun                      5 robes
  • 1 lb. vermillion                  3 robes
  • Medium blanket               3 robes
  • 25 dentalia shells             1 robe
  • 2 lbs small beads              1 robe
  • 1 knife                                 1 robe
  • 5 yards cotton print         1 robe
  • 6 feet brass wire              1 robe
  • 50 bullets 1 lb powder    1 robe

The traders reckoned a buffalo robe was worth $3. These robes were sold in St. Louis for $5 and retailed as garments for $10.

Please note the photographs presented here depict only a very small portion of the overall items in this museum.

An extensive library of books related to period trapping and fur trading. A number of well-recognized researchers work here. They have just completed the last book of a seven-volume series on trading and trapping of the period.
A replica of the Nonsuch, a 53-foot ship that sailed from London in 1668 for the Hudson Bay area. The four officers on board helped set up the Hudson Bay Trading Company. (A side note: this ship at 53 feet long is only twice the length of our truck and camper. Imagine sailing the Atlantic Ocean in such a craft!)
We tend to think of the furs from bison, beavers, foxes, etc., but seal skins were also captured and traded…mostly by Russians.
Artifacts of the Russians. Note the seal skin “raincoat” (made from the intestines of the seal) on the left. Completely watertight.
This is a closeup of the head cover area of the raincoat. Notice the intricate stitching.
As mentioned in the introduction, these types of blankets and textiles were greatly sought after by the Indians.
A decretive female Indian shawl made from hundreds of shells.
Another decretive shawl made from thousands of colored beads.
A closeup of the beadwork.
A beaded carrying pouch, at least 20” x 30”.
The sign provides a good description of the canoe. The cart is a replica of their primary mode of transport.
These canoe cups were used by the traders to scoop out drinking water from the rivers as they traveled along.
This painting (and the following picture) was created by Frances Anne Hopkins in the mid-1800s.
What most intrigued us about this painting was her ability to create the feel of a mist on the river.
While somewhat hard to see (try to zoom in to see the quills), the Blackfoot Indian pipe in this display was decorated with rare bird quills.
One of the animals (in this case a beaver) lured the Voyageurs to the Northwest.
The arms in the photograph are just a small portion of the Steerman Firearms Hall in the museum. It is the largest and most complete collection of guns made specifically for Indians.
This (and the following structure) are exact replicas of buildings used by James Bordeaux in the mid-1800s. This first structure is a storage shed, used to hold trading goods.
This was Bordeaux’s trading post. The original structure was built in 1837. This is a photograph of the building after it was reconstructed around 1880.
Some history of the Bordeaux Trading Post.
Posted in 2023 - West Again (We love it there)!
18 comments
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  • Meriam BlairHb says, on the map this is D and headed to E. This was Sunday 16 Jul.  😻ReplyCancel

  • mao  In about the 6th grade my teacher had the class do a beading project on a small loom.  I can’t imagine ho the Indians constructed those large shawls.  Beautiful work!ReplyCancel

    • HaroldUnbelievable what they could do with low light, only handmade thread, and very limited dyes.ReplyCancel

  • Alishia Fergusongreat museumReplyCancel

  • CledFeel like I just visited this museum in person.  Great presentation.ReplyCancel

  • Laura OmerI’m so glad someone had foresight to begin this important museum. Wonderful curiosities and artifacts.  I bet that shell cape was heavy!ReplyCancel

    • HaroldJust the amount of research they have done here is amazing…then collecting and verifying the artifacts!ReplyCancel

  • BobCapitalism at work! Terrific. When we were visiting Mackinac Island 5 years ago we learned of the large fur trading center around Sault Ste. Marie (Ontario/Michigan/Great Lakes) and the huge trading area that developed…of large population. A real trade traffic hub.ReplyCancel

    • HaroldNeat Bob, were there specific places/museums/etc where you were able to learn this?ReplyCancel

  • Kim ShawThank you for taking us along on your journeys.
    Where is this museum located at ?
    KimReplyCancel

  • Mary KeaslerThanks for sharing these fabulous photos.  Awesome history!ReplyCancel

    • HaroldThank you Mary. We are pleased you enjoy the photographs and history.ReplyCancel

  • Fran RoundsWater transport fascinates me:loved Nonsuch pic, ditto canoe. Sealskin raincoat origin not so appealing😖Rick Steves needs you two to expand his audience❤️ FranReplyCancel

    • HaroldHow did you get so intrigued with water transport, Fran? Regarding Rick Steves, I think our audience is too sophisticated for him 🙂ReplyCancel

  • Sherry MaskWonderful piece of history – thank you for sharingReplyCancel

    • HaroldThank you, Sherry. Tell, Lamar “hi” for us!ReplyCancel