October 15, 2005

Another feature of Point Defiance Park, is the historical Fort Nisqually. Tim and I took a brief tour of this carefully reconstructed historical site. It was established by the Hudson's Bay Company in 1833 and "served by Scottish gentlemen, Native Americans, Kanakas (Hawaiians), French-Canadians, West Indians, Englishmen and American settlers. Gradually, Fort Nisqually grew from a remote outpost to a major international trading establishment."

The rest of the history of the Fort is to be found here. I particularly like the dedication of this memorial "to the servants of the "Honorable Company of Gentlemen out of Hudson's Bay" who risked their hides for skins in the Pacific Northwest."

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Fort Nisqually was originally built on the beach in Dupont, Washington. Although it may look like a military fort because of the palisade and bastions, it was never used for military purposes.
 
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Bastions and palisades were built on the non-military sites to protect property from theft, and to be used for defense if needed. We were able to climb to the top of this particular bastion.
 
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A typical bastion at this Fort might have living quarters, a storage area or a jail on the ground floor, with the second floor being for weapons and accessories storage.
 
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Another bastion in the Fort had the ground floor set up as simple living quarters.
 
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Here's a view of part of the Fort from the top of the bastion.
 
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From left to right, Storehouse, Blacksmith, Granary and Sales Shop.
 
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The storehouse served as a warehouse for goods and supplies from Britain. From here they were sent out to other Hudson's Bay Company forts throughout the area. It also stored bales of furs and agricultural products ready for export.

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