Walhalla in Pembina County, North Dakota — The American Midwest (Upper Plains)

Kittson Trading Post

Photographed by Jimmy Emerson, Sept 2023

1. Kittson Trading Post Marker

Inscription. This warehouse is the eldest building in North Dakota having been built about 1851 by Norman Kittson agent for the American Fur Company. This building was originally built on the townsite of Walhalla, then called St. Joseph, adjoining Father Felcourt's chapel. It was moved to this site to better preserve it.

At various times it has served as a warehouse for the American Fur Company, as a residence for the D. B. Spencer family before they moved to the Gingras area where Mrs. Spencer was killed by Indians in August 1854, and as a stable for the Belview Hotel. Much of the early history of this area was centered around this fur warehouse being the terminal for the trappers and for those in need of supplies furnished by the post. The only other station was the Gingras Post some miles of here which was operated by Antoine Gingras. Kittson and Joe Rolette who, were in the cart transportation business on a route between Fort Garry (Winnipeg) and St. Paul, from about 1851 to 1870.

North Dakota State Historical Society
1962

Erected 1962 by North Dakota State Historical Society.

Topics. This historical

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marker is listed in these topic lists: Industry & Commerce • Settlements & Settlers. A significant historical year for this entry is 1851.

Location. 48° 54.975′ N, 97° 55.336′ W. Marker is in Walhalla, North Dakota, in Pembina County. It is on Martyr Drive. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Walhalla ND 58282, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in North Dakota’s Red River Valley

and in the Turtle Mountains.

It is also in the American Lewis & Clark Corridor,

on the prairies,

and on the Northern Plains.

Globally, it is in North America,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once Rupert’s Land

and also the Louisiana Purchase.

Other nearby markers. At least 2 other markers are within 11 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies: Gingras Trading Post (approx. 2 miles away); Oak Lawn Church (approx. 10.8 miles away).

Photographed by Jimmy Emerson, Sept 2023

2. Kittson Trading Post Marker

The marker is in the distance to the left of the building.

Credits. This page was last revised on October 25, 2025. It was originally submitted on October 10, 2025, by Jimmy Emerson of Dalton, Georgia. This page has been viewed 95 times since then and 33 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on October 10, 2025, by Jimmy Emerson of Dalton, Georgia. • Andrew Ruppenstein was the editor who published this page.