Why Was Fort Edmonton Built?

The first fort, known as Fort Augustus or Edmonton House was built in 1795 by the North West Company (NWC) to replace smaller posts at the mouth of the Sturgeon River. The fort quickly became an important trading center and a hub for the fur trade in the region.

Later in 1810, the Hudson's Bay Company built a rival fort called Fort Edmonton just across the river. These forts served as hubs of the fur trade, where trappers and traders brought their animal pelts to exchange them for goods and supplies. They also became crucial for facilitating trade with Indigenous communities and supporting exploration of the region.