Fort Restoration Project

The Fort la Reine Museum houses the only replica of the historically remarkable Fort la Reine. The original Fort was built in 1738 on the Assiniboine River by Pierre Gaultier de Varennes et de La Vérendrye, who is contemporarily celebrated as a fur trader, explorer, farmer, and first military commander in the west, of what is now Canada. The original Fort was one of the larger settlements that fueled Canadian Western Expansion in the 18th century, and is one of the few physical examples of a la Vérendrye Fort today. The original Fort included two bastion towers on either side of the entrance gate, stables, a blacksmith shelter, a trading post in the centre, and a large fortification wall made of wood. Fort la Reine served not only as a fur trading post, but was the primary base of operations for much historic exploration north and west, as well as an anchored site for Dakota and French relations. From Fort la Reine and with the assistance of the Dakota peoples in the region, explorers travelled farther west than any previous Europeans ever had before. A marker where Fort la Reine is considered to have been, is a National Historic Site, and Fort la Reine's story elevates the significance of Portage la Prairie as a place that is historically significant on a National scale.

RESTORATION DETAILS

A group of dedicated volunteers, local historians, and craftspeople constructed the replica of Fort la Reine and established the Fort la Reine Museum in 1967 as a Centennial Project. It was built taking into account historic records and testimonies of how the Fort would have looked like in 1738. For over 59 years, the replica of Fort la Reine acted as the centre for historic education at the Museum, but the Trading Post had to be closed down due to massive deterioration.

The Fort bastions were successfully completed in December 2023, marking an important milestone in the restoration of Fort la Reine. The next critical phase is the rebuilding of the Trading Post.

In its current state, the Trading Post represents a significant cultural loss to our community. The structure is beyond simple repair and is unsafe for visitors. To ensure Fort la Reine Museum remains relevant and continues to provide a high-quality visitor experience that tells the story of Portage la Prairie’s early history, a full rebuild of the Fort la Reine replica is essential. While the renewal of the bastions was a strong first step, rebuilding the Trading Post is crucial to restoring the integrity and authenticity of the site.

The new Trading Post will serve as the hub of the Fort — a vibrant, year-round gathering space for the community. It will provide meeting space, a functional washroom, and a small bar area, allowing us to host educational programs, small events, and cultural gatherings throughout all 12 months of the year. Most importantly, it will restore the historical context that inspires community pride and strengthens both local and Canadian identity.

Rebuilding the Trading Post is more than a construction project — it is an investment in heritage, education, and the future of our community.