Business Fort Whoop-Up National Historic Site
403-329-0444
20 Indian Battle Park
Lethbridge,
Alberta
AB
About Us
Many trade "forts or posts" sprung up, scattered about the southern Canadian plains. Primarily, these forts were used for only one or two seasons and then burned down, so they were little more than stockade cabins.
Established in 1869 as a base for trade with the Indians, one of the earliest and most notorious of the "whiskey forts" built by Americans on Canadian soil was Fort Hamilton. It was supplied by T. C. Power Company out of Fort Benton, Montana and was operated by John J. Healy, his brother Thomas and Alfred B. Hamilton (the Fort's namesake.)
Likely for reasons of its trade, it later became known as Fort Whoop-Up and was one of the largest and most profitable of all of the trading forts. The Fort is rapidly becoming the attraction of action. Through electronic displays, historical sights and sounds are captured using signature interactive elements that pay tribute to and commemorate the legacy of the North West Mounted Police (NWMP,) Aboriginal people, courageous pioneers, and colourful people and events that shaped Western Canada. For a pitch of Alberta's history, for an historical echo, this Fort is the place to go.