Fort Colvile

Fort Colvile was a trading post operated by the Hudson's Bay Company at a strategic location near Kettle Falls on the Columbia River. The facility included extensive farmland where wheat, potatoes, and barley were grown to supply other posts across the region.

The Hudson's Bay Company established the post in 1825 to replace an earlier facility at Spokane House, and it operated without interruption until closing in 1871. During its four decades of operation, it served as a major hub for regional fur trade networks.

Indigenous peoples gathered at the falls each summer to fish for salmon, and the trading post served as a meeting place where different groups exchanged goods and knowledge. The location became a focal point where Native American cultures intersected with European fur trading networks.

Access to this historic location required navigating around significant waterfalls and rough terrain. Today, visitors can learn about the site through exhibits and collections in nearby cultural institutions.

The original site now sits submerged beneath Lake Roosevelt after the construction of the Grand Coulee Dam in 1940. This flooding permanently erased the physical structures from view.

Location: Kettle Falls

Inception: 1825

GPS coordinates: 48.53506,-117.89075

Latest update: December 12, 2025 07:54