Fort Rouge, French colonial fort at Red and Assiniboine Rivers junction, Winnipeg, Canada
Fort Rouge was a trading post built in 1738 at the junction where the Red River and Assiniboine River meet. The structure stood on the north bank of the Assiniboine River, near what is now Winnipeg's Union Station.
The post was established by Sieur Louis Damours de Louvières under the direction of Pierre Gaultier de Varennes to advance French colonial interests. It became one of several trading stations that opened up the region to European influence and settlement.
The fort was a place where French traders and local communities gathered to exchange goods and ideas. This exchange shaped the economic relationships that developed across the region.
The fort no longer stands in its original form, but the site is accessible to visitors and clearly marked. It is best explored along with other historic locations in Winnipeg to gain a fuller understanding of the region's development.
The site was recognized as a historic monument in 1924 as part of a larger designation that included two other forts representing different phases of the fur trade. This official recognition made the location significant for understanding how Winnipeg grew as a trading center.
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