Saleesh House, Former fur trading post in Thompson Falls, Montana
Saleesh House was a former fur trading post in Thompson Falls, Montana, located near the Clark Fork River and serving as a strategic trading station. It connected mountain regions with bison hunting grounds near Flathead Lake and offered direct access to fresh water, grazing land for horses, and major trading routes through western Montana's mountains.
David Thompson and James McMillan of the North West Company built Saleesh House in 1809 as a trading center in the region. After 1821, the Hudson's Bay Company took over the post and continued trading operations under new management.
The trading post attracted multiple indigenous tribes who traditionally established winter camps in the area, facilitating extensive fur trading activities with European settlers.
The site is accessible on foot and offers proximity to the nearby river and open areas that are easy to walk through. Visitors should prepare for changing weather conditions and wear appropriate footwear, as the surrounding landscape varies in accessibility depending on the season.
Thompson conducted astronomical observations at this location using Jupiter's moons to determine precise coordinates. He recorded the latitude as 47 degrees 34 minutes 35 seconds north, contributing to early mapping of this remote region.
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