Welcome to Fort William Historical Park
In addition to featuring an accurate re-creation of the fur trade era inland headquarters of the North West Company, Fort William Historical Park is also home to the state-of-the-art David Thompson Astronomical Observatory and one of the largest telescopes in Central Canada. Fort William Historical Park also offers year-round festivals and events, an RV and tent campground, in-person, virtual and overnight educational programs, and wedding and conference facilities.
We look forward to seeing you soon!
For information and updates about our programs and services, call (807) 473-2344, email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. , find us on Facebook and Instagram @FortWilliamHP, or sign-up for our e-newsletter.
Fort William Historical Park will be closed Friday, March 29 and Monday, April 1, 2024.
Discover Fort William
The year is 1815, and the place is Fort William. This is the inland headquarters of the North West Company, the world’s largest fur trading enterprise. It's a place where cultures meet, and relationships are forged between Indigenous Peoples and non-Indigenous newcomers. Fort William stands on the traditional territory of the Anishinaabe, the Indigenous people who have lived in harmony with the land for generations, and whose traditions, technologies and customs reflect their relationships with the forests, rivers and animals around them. The Anishinaabe share their invaluable knowledge and skills with their European partners and trade furs for European goods. Each summer, French-Canadian voyageurs, Scottish businessmen, Indigenous Peoples, and others from around the world gather at Fort William for the Great Rendezvous to discuss business, share news and renew friendships. Experience this unique place and time in Canadian history through the eyes of people who lived and worked around Fort William in the 1800s.
Guided Tours (Friday, March 1 through Friday, May 17, 2024)
English: 11 a.m., 2 p.m. | French: 1:30 p.m.
Enjoy a guided tour of Fort William led by one of its inhabitants. Guided tours last approximately 1.5 hours. Self-guided tours are not available at this time.
Admission
- March 1-31: $11 per person (+HST), Children 5 & under are free
- April 1-May 17: $13 per person (HST included), Children 5 & under are free
A note to our visitors
Effective October 30, the Broadway Avenue entrance will be closed for the winter until May 1, 2024. Please use the King Road entrance during this time.
Our website, social media, e-newsletter, education program guide, catering and specialty services guide, and forms are currently under construction. Thank you for your patience.
Fur Trade Fort William: A Timeline through Art
Open through to March 31, 2024
Tuesday to Sunday, 1 to 5 p.m.
Thunder Bay Museum, 425 Donald Street East
In celebration of 50 years of bringing life to history as a provincial attraction, Fort William Historical Park (FWHP), in partnership with the Thunder Bay Historical Museum Society, presents 45 works of art executed by 20 different artists assembled from 12 collections. Curated by Shawn Patterson, FWHP Collections Team Leader, and will be available for viewing from October 2023 to March 2024. This exhibit captures the vibrancy, bustle and inhabitants in and around Fort William throughout the 1800s.
Celestial Event - Solar Eclipse
April 8, 2024
1 to 5 p.m.
$15 per person, Children 5 and under are free
Join us at the David Thompson Astronomical Observatory (DTAO) to safely watch the solar eclipse crossing North America. We’ll be open rain or shine.
Please note, viewing the sun with your naked eye can cause temporary or permanent eye damage. All attendees need to follow proper health and safety guidelines. This includes wearing eye protection with specialized filters adhering to the ISO 12312-2 international standard to prevent eye damage.
Event activities include:
- Free Solar glasses for all visitors (while supplies last).
- Live video feed of the solar eclipse from partner locations around Canada.
- Learn about Anishinaabe culture and perspectives on the sky.
- Learn about David Thompson and his role in the North West Company and mapping North America.
- Discover our collection of meteorites and authentic astronomy instruments used by explorers such as David Thompson in the 1700s.
- Tour the dome, which houses our 20” Corrected Dall-Kirkham (CDK) telescope, one of the largest publicly available telescopes in Central Canada.
Land Acknowledgement
We respectfully acknowledge that Fort William Historical Park is located on the traditional territory of the Anishinaabeg of Anemki Wajiw (Thunder Mountain), Fort William First Nation, signatory to the Robinson-Superior Treaty of 1850. We also recognize the historic and ongoing contributions of all First Nations, Inuit and Métis across Mikinaak Minis (Turtle Island, North America). We appreciate the privilege to share a part of their storied past on the lands that First Peoples have kept since time immemorial.
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Officially curated, the Canadian Signature Experiences are once-in-a-lifetime travel experiences. They are offered by Canadians who are passionate about sharing their part of the country with you.
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The World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC) in conjunction with the industry, including the Tourism Industry Association of Ontario (TIAO), has created a self-certified Safe Travels Stamp based on worldwide industry protocols to allow travellers to recognise destinations around the world which have adopted health and hygiene global standardised protocols – so consumers can experience 'Safe Travels’. |