Grand Portage in Cook County, Minnesota — The American Midwest (Upper Plains)

North West Company Depot

Photographed by Connor Olson, September 5, 2019

1. North West Company Depot Marker

Inscription. "All the buildings within the Fort are sixteen in number...Six of these buildings are Store Houses for the company's Merchandise and Furs, etc., the rest are dwelling houses shops compting and Mess House..."
John Macdonell 1793

"June 14th Saturday. Mr. J. Clarke & I are placed in the General Shop where we deal out to the People Dry Goods, Rum, Flour Sugar, Butter & Meat etc. etc....

"June 15, Sunday...the labouring People have all Day been employed in Making and pressing Packs of Furs to be sent to Canada...

"24th Tuesday, I along with several other Clerks am busily employed in making Packs...

"July 4th - In the Daytime the Natives were allowed to Dance in the Fort, and to whom the Coy. made a present of thirty six Gallons of Shrub..." (Shrub consisted of orange or lemon juice, sugar, and rum.)
Daniel William Harmon 1800

Erected by National Park Service.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Exploration • Industry & Commerce. A significant historical year for this entry is 1793.

Location. 47° 57.708′ N, 89° 41.086′ W. Marker is in Grand Portage, Minnesota, in Cook

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County. It is on Mill Creek Road 0.1 miles south of Store Road. Located at the Grand Portage National Monument. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 112 Mill Creek Rd, Grand Portage MN 55605, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is on Minnesota’s Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness,

in the Arrowhead Region,

in the Iron Range,

and in the North Shore.

It is also in the American Midwest,

on the Great Lakes,

and in the Corn Belt.

Globally, it is in North America,

in the Great North Woods,

on Lake Superior’s North Shore,

in the Western Hemisphere,

in the Western World,

and in the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once the Viceroyalty of New France,

Rupert’s Land,

the territory of the Mississippian Culture,

and the Northwest Territory.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: The Birchbark Canoe (here, next to this marker); Voyageurs at Grand Portage (within shouting distance of this marker); North West Company Fur Press (within shouting distance of this marker); A Warehouse for Furs, Trade Goods, and Now—Canoes

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(within shouting distance of this marker); The North West Company (within shouting distance of this marker); Guard the Gate (about 300 feet away, measured in a direct line); The Grand Portage (about 400 feet away); Naming This Place (about 600 feet away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Grand Portage.

Credits. This page was last revised on July 18, 2020. It was originally submitted on July 18, 2020, by Connor Olson of Menomonee Falls, Wisconsin. This page has been viewed 259 times since then and 9 times this year. Photo 1. submitted on July 18, 2020, by Connor Olson of Menomonee Falls, Wisconsin. • Mark Hilton was the editor who published this page.

Editor’s want-list for this marker. A wide shot of the marker and its surroundings. • Can you help?