Vignettes /Greater Winnipeg / Garry-Osborne

Upper Fort Garry Gate

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Upper Fort Garry was the last of five forts, known to have been built in the general vicinity of Broadway Avenue and Main Street. The other forts included Fort Rouge (circa 1736), Fort Gibraltar (circa 1806), Fort Douglas (circa 1815) and the original Fort Garry (circa 1821).

After the flood of 1826 when the original Fort Garry was demolished, Governor George Simpson rebuilt the fort downstream in 1831 at its present location near Selkirk, Manitoba. An unpopular move because of the days journey required to reach the “forks” where trade was already established. The Hudson's Bay Company decided to return to the forks and built a second fort in 1835, named Upper Fort Garry. An impressive structure, with four large bastions and formidable 15-foot high stone walls, its presence was meant to demonstrate the Company's dominance in the area.