The fur warehouse (1888-89)

The general warehouse holds the highest designation Parks Canada can bestow on heritage resources. It is perhaps the finest example of Red River framing (or “piece-on-piece construction”) in North America. This style of construction was perfectly suited to accommodate the changing needs of the fur trade. Because of “bottom log rot,” a post's buildings had to be renewed about every twenty-five years. Today's warehouse is from the fourth rebuilding of Fort St James. The walls of this unique type of building are comprised of sections or “bays.“ When the fur traders wanted to rebuild, they could easily change the size and shape of the new buildings by reconfiguring and reusing bays from previous structures.

The warehouse is piled high with furs, reproductions of trade goods, and original artifacts to give visitors a sense of the role that Fort St. James played as the distribution and administrative centre of New Caledonia.

See the huge array of furs and trade goods that fueled the economy.

Smell the pungent aroma of beaver castors as you step through the door.

Discover why the fur warehouse is the finest existing example of this kind of building in North America.