The Upper Fort Garry Gate is the last remnant of a once-powerful Hudson’s Bay Company fort. Today, it stands as a historic landmark in downtown Winnipeg, linking the city to its Red River roots.
The Legacy of Red River
Upper Fort Garry was first established in 1822 by the Hudson’s Bay Company at the Forks of the Red and Assiniboine rivers, a vital crossroads of trade and travel in what is now downtown Winnipeg. The location quickly became a hub for the fur trade, Métis commerce, and early settlement in the region. Recognizing its importance, the Company constructed a new, larger fort near the original site in 1836. This expanded fortification became the political and economic heart of the Red River Settlement, influencing the growth of the community that would one day become Manitoba’s capital.
Through the mid-19th century, Upper Fort Garry played a central role in the turbulent history of the prairies. It was here that decisions were made regarding trade, settlement, and governance. The fort was also closely tied to the Métis and their leader Louis Riel, who in 1869–70 led the Red River Resistance from within its walls, ultimately paving the way for Manitoba’s entry into Confederation. Thus, Upper Fort Garry was not only a commercial center but also a stage for the political struggles that shaped Western Canada.
By the 1880s, however, much of the original fort had been dismantled to make way for the rapidly expanding city of Winnipeg. Its oak palisades and stone buildings gave way to rail lines, warehouses, and busy streets, leaving little trace of the once-dominant structure. Yet, one enduring piece of the fort survived the demolition: the Governor’s Gate. Preserved as a historic landmark, this stone gateway remains as a physical reminder of the Red River Settlement and its ties to the Hudson’s Bay Company.
Built in the mid-1850s, the Gate originally anchored the massive oak walls of the north side of the fort, which stood over ten feet high and three feet thick. Its design blends practicality with symbolic grandeur. The notched battlements at the top resemble the fortified towers of Norman castles, while the rounded archway entrance reflects Renaissance influence. These architectural flourishes made the fort more than just a trading post—they projected authority, dignity, and permanence in a frontier community.
Today, the Upper Fort Garry Gate stands as part of an urban heritage park, a solitary stone sentinel surrounded by the hum of downtown Winnipeg. Where once it guarded a bastion of commerce and colonial power, it now invites reflection on the layered histories of the Red River Settlement, the Métis, and the people who built and lived around it. More than just a relic, the Gate symbolizes the endurance of memory, connecting present-day visitors to the stories of ambition, conflict, and resilience that shaped Manitoba’s earliest days.
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