Upper Fort Garry was a Hudson’s Bay Company trading post, located near the Red River and Assiniboine River fork, in what is now downtown Winnipeg. It was established in 1822, after the amalgamation between the Nor’westers and the Hudson’s Bay Company. In 1826 it was destroyed by severe flooding. It was rebuilt in 1835 in a slightly different location. A second fort, known as Lower Fort Garry was also established 32 kilometres downstream from here near this time.
Upper Fort Garry was involved in several political conflicts. One of which was the Red River Rebellion of 1869 to 1870. A group of Métis, led by Louis Riel, seized the fort and formed a provisional government to resist Canada’s annexation of their traditional homeland. Under the direction of Louis Riel, one of their prisoners, Thomas Scott, was executed by firing squad in the fort’s courtyard.
Today, all that remains of Upper Fort Garry is the large stone front gate and wooden wall. Most of the fort was demolished In 1881 in order to straighten Main Street.
In 1924, the fort was designated a National Historic Site.
In the spring of 2010, provincial legislation was passed to create a provincial heritage park at the site. The park officially opened on August 6, 2015. The old gate is the main entrance to the park. There are plans to build an interpretive center on the old fort grounds, but the date for this project has not yet been announced.
