Fort Union Trading Post National Historic Site
Williston, ND Hours and Location

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Frequently Asked Questions

How do I obtain a park entrance pass?

Only 118 of your 417 park sites charge entrance fees. You can obtain park entrance passes by visiting a park site that charges an entrance fee. Entrance fee sites have passes available; we recommend calling a park prior to your visit. (See the park search to locate a specific park.) There are a number of entrance passes available, including park-specific passes as well as passes that offer entrance to more than 2,000 federal recreation sites in addition to the national parks (Annual, Military, Senior, 4th Grade, Access, and Volunteer passes). Learn more about the America the Beautiful – The National Parks and Federal Recreational Lands Pass.

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About this location:

National Historic Site

Operating Hours & Seasons

Summer Season

Memorial Day until Labor Day, 8:00am to 6:30 pm CST daily

Standard Hours

• Sunday:8:00 AM-6:30 PM
• Monday:8:00 AM-6:30 PM
• Tuesday:8:00 AM-6:30 PM
• Wednesday:8:00 AM-6:30 PM
• Thursday:8:00 AM-6:30 PM
• Friday:8:00 AM-6:30 PM
• Saturday:8:00 AM-6:30 PM

Winter Season

Labor Day through Memorial Day winter hours are 9:00am to 5:30pm, CDT

Standard Hours

• Sunday:9:00 AM-5:00 PM
• Monday:9:00 AM-5:00 PM
• Tuesday:9:00 AM-5:00 PM
• Wednesday:9:00 AM-5:00 PM
• Thursday:9:00 AM-5:00 PM
• Friday:9:00 AM-5:00 PM
• Saturday:9:00 AM-5:00 PM

Additional Information View More

• Christmas Day:
• –

• New Year’s Day:
• –

• Thanksgiving Day:
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Fees & Passes

Entrance Fees:

• $0.00 – Free Entrance to Fort Union Trading Post NHS
  There is no fee to enter Fort Union Trading Post National Historic Site – Enjoy your visit!

About

The Grandest Fort on the Upper Missouri River

Between 1828 and 1867, Fort Union was the most important fur trade post on the Upper Missouri River. Here, the Assiniboine and six other Northern Plains Indian Tribes exchanged buffalo robes and smaller furs for goods from around the world, including cloth, guns, blankets, and beads. A bastion of peaceful coexistence, the post annually traded over 25,000 buffalo robes and $100,000 in merchandise.

Directions

Located on North Dakota 1804, the park is 25 miles southwest of Williston, ND, and 24 miles northeast of Sidney, MT.

Visitor Centers

Bourgeois House Visitor Center

Located in the center of the fort’s courtyard is the Bourgeois House Visitor Center. The reconstructed building documents Fort Union’s life and history through exhibits and close-captioned videos. The exhibits include artifacts recovered during the extensive archaeological excavations. The information gained in these excavations made the fort’s reconstruction possible. This fully accessible building includes a ranger-staffed information desk, brochures and Jr. Ranger program. Trade House

Located immediately inside the fort’s main, or south, gate, this accurately reconstructed Trade house is staffed by a park ranger dressed as a fur traders from the 1850s. The trader presents informative programs on the history of the trading post and the commercial and cultural exchanges that occurred here. The reception room is furnished to look as it did in sketches produced by a post clerk in the early 1850s, while the trade room is stocked with replicas of the actual goods.

Weather

Weather in western North Dakota can be harsh, with extremes in temperature and sudden, violent storms. Be prepared for rapidly changing conditions. Summers are warm with average high temperatures in the 80s-90s May through September. Winters are cold with average lows in the single digits December through February. Wind is considerable year-round. Conditions can change quickly. Travelers should be aware of the potential for violent thunderstorms in the summer and the possibility of blizzards.