Near St. Ignatius in Lake County, Montana — The American West (Mountains)

Fort Connah

Photographed By Barry Swackhamer, August 18, 2020

1. Fort Connah Marker

Inscription. Construction of the last Hudson Bay Trading Post, within the present borders of the United States, was started here in 1846, and was completed in 1847 by Angus McDonald. Angus originally named the fort "Connen" after a river valley in his Scottish homeland, but later changed it to Connah for easier pronunciation by the Salish, Kootenai, Pend d'Oreille and other Indians in there area.
Fort Connah was built about 1/2 mile east of here and remained an important trading center for the Indians until the U.S. Government forced the British owned company to abandon the post in 1871. At its height, Fort Connah consisted of only three buildings. The store house is the only original structure that still survives.
The Mission Valley was thrown open for settlement in 1910. Prior to that time it was almost entirely virgin prairie, unplowed, unfenced and beautiful to see. You road a saddle horse to get places. Some people wish it were still like that today.
Many descendants of Angus McDonald still live in the Mission Valley.

Erected by Montana Department of Transportation.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Forts and Castles.

Location. 47° 24.549′ N, 114° 5.798′ W. Marker is

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near St. Ignatius, Montana, in Lake County. Marker is on U.S. 93 at milepost 39 near Post Creek Road, on the right when traveling north. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Saint Ignatius MT 59865, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Other nearby markers. At least 7 other markers are within 11 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies. St. Joseph's Catholic Church of D'Aste (approx. 5 miles away); The Mission Mountain Wilderness (approx. 5.3 miles away); St Ignatius Mission (approx. 6.6 miles away); The National Bison Range (approx. 8 miles away); Don E. Olsson House and Garage (approx. 8 miles away); Ronan United Methodist Church (approx. 8.2 miles away); The Flathead Indian Reservation (approx. 10.2 miles away).

Also see . . . Fort Connah, Montana -- Legends of America. Today, there is one remaining original building from the original trading post that continues to stand. It is believed to be the oldest standing building in Montana and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. The Fort Connah Historic Site also includes two historic log cabins that were moved to the site which replicate the buildings that once made-up the original trading post. (Submitted on November 8, 2020, by Barry Swackhamer of Brentwood, California.)

Photographed By Barry Swackhamer, August 18, 2020

2. Fort Connah Marker

Photographed By Legends of America

3. Fort Connah

Credits. This page was last revised on November 8, 2020. It was originally submitted on November 8, 2020, by Barry Swackhamer of Brentwood, California. This page has been viewed 254 times since then and 24 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on November 8, 2020, by Barry Swackhamer of Brentwood, California.