Tag Archives: Forts

We went to a different country!

We decided while we were up on the North shore we should go ahead and cross the border into Canada!

It would be a first for everyone in my family.

First stop was the Grand Portage National Monument! It is right near the border and we had gone several years ago.

It ended up being a great stop because we got the early history of the Northwest Trading Company here and then at our next stop we got the what happened when they moved to Canada. I have been reading several historical novels about fur trading around the time of the French and Indian War and early fur trading in America so I found all of these stops fascinating. The boys looked the part! Such a beautiful area! Next we crossed into Canada and went to Fort William!

It is a giant fort and the tour is pretty amazing.

It was a little long for some of my kids but Nick just took them to walk around some.

The man giving the tour acts the part the whole time and was very interesting! He even had the boys act the part! The twins favorite part was the barnyard.

They let you help with chores!

Chicken lovers.

While at Fort William one of the workers told us about a giant waterfall that we really should go see so we looked it up and went, not really knowing what to expect.The Kakabeka Falls was breathtaking!It was a total surprise and was the biggest waterfall I had ever seen!We did not really have any other plans other than make it back over the border and hopefully stop at High Falls on Pigeon River which is at Grand Portage State Park.

What I did not realize was how close to the border it was!

I was a bit flustered from the border patrol questions and totally missed the park so we had to turn around!It ended up being totally worth it though!

It was a beautiful stop and was another part of the history we were learning.

 This is the reason for Grand Portage, this giant waterfall.

Best field trip ever.

Fur Trade Era Rendezvous ~Fort Washita, Durant, OK

barracks3I had only visited one fort in Oklahoma until last weekend, Fort Gibson.

I kept wanting to visit the other forts but they just seemed too far away for a trip just to see them.

fortwallsImagine my delight when I found out that Fort Washita was on the way home from the DanMan Challenge we were going to!

Not only was it on the way but it was having it’s Fur Trade Era Rendezvous the same weekend!

barracksSo after we finished our 10K we headed to the Fort to walk around.

Isn’t that what everyone does after running that far?

ruins

fortIt was a very big fort so there was a lot of walking.

My feet protested a little but I was okay with that.

skins

saberMy boys noticed his weapon right away and asked to see it.

I really enjoy how people are passionate about sharing history at these events.

Seeing a Dragoon show you his saber is so much better than a picture in a book!

playerWe have gone to so many history events that we have started recognizing the regulars!

This guy has been at two other events that we have been to.

campsitesThe grounds were beautiful!

toysThe boys always drool all over the handmade weapons.

tenthouse

cemetaryThis fort was taken over by the Confederates during the Civil War.

dyeDying cloth.

fabricdye

teachingThis lady was great!

So full of information on dying fabric!

bugsDead bugs used for one of the colors(still used today).

fabricdye2

woolcardShowing the boys how to card wool.

carding

wool

yarn2

toolsThe Blacksmith shop.

blacksmith2

stokefire

canonThe blacksmith had a little canon that he fired.

It was loud!

canonfire

smoke

saddleThe Stables.

stables

candlemakingCandle Making.

candles

canon3

walkpathThis was a beautiful fort!

I am so glad that we got to go!

I really like to visit places like this when an event is going on, it is so much more fun to see people dressed in period clothing when going to historical places.

Most of these places have websites so I just check out their event schedule and add it to our calendar!