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{{short description|Archaeological site in Alaska, United States}}

{{redirect|Fort Taku|the forts in China|Taku Forts}}
{{Infobox NRHP
{{Infobox NRHP
| name =Fort Durham Site
| name = Fort Durham Site
| nrhp_type =nhl
| nrhp_type = nhl
| image =
| image =
| caption =
| caption =
| location = [[Juneau City and Borough, Alaska]], [[United States|USA]]
| location = {{Address Restricted}}, [[Juneau City and Borough, Alaska]], U.S.
| nearest_city= [[Juneau, Alaska]]
| nearest_city = [[Juneau, Alaska]]
| locmapin = Alaska
| locmapin = Alaska
| coordinates = <!--- address restricted -->
| lat_degrees = 58 | lat_minutes = 02 | lat_seconds = 01 | lat_direction = N
| area =
| long_degrees = 134 | long_minutes = 0 | long_seconds = 01 | long_direction = W
| built = 1840
| area =
⚫
| architect = [[James Douglas (governor)|James Douglas]]
| built =1840
⚫
| architecture =
⚫
| architect= [[James Douglas (governor)|Douglas,James]]
| designated_nrhp_type = June 2, 1978<ref name="nhlsum">{{cite web|url=http://tps.cr.nps.gov/nhl/detail.cfm?ResourceId=1744&ResourceType=Site|title=Fort Durham Site|access-date=2007-12-28|work=National Historic Landmark summary listing|publisher=National Park Service|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110606083300/http://tps.cr.nps.gov/nhl/detail.cfm?ResourceId=1744&ResourceType=Site|archive-date=2011-06-06|url-status=dead}}</ref>
⚫
| architecture=
| added = May 5, 1978
| designated_nrhp_type= June 2, 1978<ref name="nhlsum">{{cite web|url=http://tps.cr.nps.gov/nhl/detail.cfm?ResourceId=1744&ResourceType=Site
| refnum = 78000529<ref name="nris">{{NRISref |refnum=78000529|2010a}}</ref>
|title=Fort Durham Site |accessdate=2007-12-28|work=National Historic Landmark summary listing|publisher=National Park Service}}</ref>
| designated_other1 = Alaska Heritage Resources Survey
| added = May 5, 1978<ref name="nris">{{NRISref|2007a}}</ref>
| designated_other1_name = Alaska Heritage Resources Survey
| governing_body = FOREST SERVICE
| designated_other1_color = #A8EDEF
| refnum=78000529
| designated_other1_abbr = AHRS
| designated_other1_number = JUN-036
| designated_other1_num_position = bottom
}}
}}
'''Fort Durham''', also known as '''Fort Taku''', '''Taku''', '''Taco''', and '''Tacouw''' and in legal terms as '''AHRS Site JUN 036''' is an [[archaeological site]] near [[Taku Harbor, Alaska]], within the limits of [[Juneau City and Borough, Alaska|Juneau City and Borough]]. It was one of three [[Hudson's Bay Company]] (HBC) posts set up in [[Russian America]].<ref>{{GNIS|2493757|Fort Durham Site}}</ref>
'''Fort Durham''', also known as '''Fort Taku''', '''Taku''', '''Taco''', and '''Tacouw''', is an [[archaeological site]] near [[Taku Harbor, Alaska]], within the limits of [[Juneau City and Borough, Alaska|Juneau City and Borough]] and [[Tongass National Forest]]. It was one of three [[Hudson's Bay Company]] (HBC) posts set up in [[Russian America]].<ref>{{GNIS|2493757|Fort Durham Site}}</ref> The '''Fort Durham Site''' was declared a U.S. [[National Historic Landmark]] in 1978.<ref name="nhlsum"/>


==Background==
⚫
In 1834 the HBC tried to establish a post on the [[Stikine River]], British rights to which had been one of the terms of the [[Russo-British Treaty of 1825]]. The effort was blocked, temporarily, by the Russians, resulting in high-level negotiations between the British and Russian governments. One result of these negotiations was the 1839 ten-year lease of what is today the [[Alaska Panhandle]]. Under the terms of the agreement the HBC had the right to establish posts, hunt, and trade furs along the coast in exchange for furnishing the [[Russian American Company]] with food. The HBC took advantage immediately, sending [[James Douglas (governor)|James Douglas]] north in the ''[[Beaver (steamship)|Beaver]]'' in 1840. Douglas explored the [[Taku River]] and built Fort Durham (or Taku) on the coast just south of the river's mouth. He also took possession of [[Fort Stikine|Redoubt San Dionisio]] (Fort Saint Dionysius), which lay off the mouth of the Stikine River on [[Etolin Island]], near today's [[Wrangell, Alaska]] (and renamed it Fort Stikine), which the Russians had agreed to transfer to the HBC under the 1839 lease agreement.<ref name=mackie-1>{{cite book |last= Mackie |first= Richard Somerset |title= Trading Beyond the Mountains: The British Fur Trade on the Pacific 1793-1843 |year= 1997 |publisher= University of British Columbia (UBC) Press |location= Vancouver |isbn= 0-7748-0613-3 |url= http://books.google.com/books?id=VKXgJw6K088C |pages= 140–142}}</ref>
In 1834 the HBC tried to establish a post on the [[Stikine River]], British rights to which had been one of the terms of the [[Russo-British Treaty of 1825]]. However, the effort was blocked by employees of the [[Russian American Company]] (RAC), on the orders of Governor [[Ferdinand von Wrangel]]. Several years were spent by the HBC attempting to seek financial compensation from the RAC in response to be being blocked access from the Stikine River. Late in 1838 the [[Russian Empire|Imperial Russian Government]] ordered the RAC to settle their dispute with HBC, eventually leading to the signing of the [[RAC-HBC Agreement]] in early 1839. One of the main terms was a ten-year lease of what is today the [[Alaska Panhandle]]. The HBC was guaranteed the right to establish posts, hunt, and trade furs along the coast in exchange for furnishing [[Russian America]] with provisions and various food supplies.


==Creation==
⚫
In 1841 the HBC governor [[George Simpson (administrator)|George Simpson]] ordered Fort Durham and other coastal posts closed, because the ''Beaver'' was able to conduct the coastal fur trade without the need for more than the single permanent post of Fort Simpson. The HBC closed operations at Fort Durham in 1843.<ref name=mackie-2>{{cite book |last= Mackie |first= Richard Somerset |title= Trading Beyond the Mountains: The British Fur Trade on the Pacific 1793-1843 |year= 1997 |publisher= University of British Columbia (UBC) Press |location= Vancouver |isbn= 0-7748-0613-3 |url= http://books.google.com/books?id=VKXgJw6K088C |pages= 269–270-142}}</ref>
⚫
Taking advantage of the agreement's terms immediately, the HBC sent [[James Douglas (governor)|James Douglas]] north in the ''[[Beaver (steamship)|Beaver]]'' in 1840. Douglas explored the [[Taku River]] and built Fort Durham (or Taku) on the coast just south of the river's mouth. He also took possession of [[Fort Stikine|Redoubt San Dionisio]] (Fort Saint Dionysius), which lay off the mouth of the Stikine River on [[Etolin Island]], near today's [[Wrangell, Alaska]] (and renamed it Fort Stikine), which the Russians had agreed to transfer to the HBC under the 1839 lease agreement.<ref name=mackie-1>{{cite book |last= Mackie |first= Richard Somerset |title= Trading Beyond the Mountains: The British Fur Trade on the Pacific 1793-1843 |year= 1997 |publisher= University of British Columbia (UBC) Press |location= Vancouver |isbn= 0-7748-0613-3 |url= https://books.google.com/books?id=VKXgJw6K088C |pages= 140–142}}</ref>


==Closure==
The '''Fort Durham Site''' was declared a U.S. [[National Historic Landmark]] in 1978.<ref name="nhlsum"/>
⚫
In 1841 the HBC governor [[George Simpson (administrator)|George Simpson]] ordered Fort Durham and other coastal posts closed, because the ''Beaver'' was able to conduct the coastal fur trade without the need for more than the single permanent post of Fort Simpson. The HBC closed operations at Fort Durham in 1843.<ref>Mackie (1997), 142, 269–270.</ref> The majority of the 8 [[Native Hawaiian|Hawaiian]] [[Kanaka (Pacific Island worker)|Kanakas]] employees at Fort Durham were reassigned to [[Fort Victoria (British Columbia)|Fort Victoria]].<ref>Koppel, Tom. ''Kanaka, the Untold Story of Hawaiian Pioneers in British Columbia and the Pacific Northwest.'' Vancouver, B.C.: Whitcap Books. 1995, p. 54.</ref>


==See also==
==See also==
* [[Maritime Fur Trade]]
* [[Maritime Fur Trade]]
⚫
* [[List of National Historic Landmarks in Alaska]]
* [[National Register of Historic Places listings in Juneau, Alaska]]


==References==
==References==
{{Reflist}}
{{Reflist}}


{{NRHP in Alaska by borough and census area}}
{{Registered Historic Places}}
{{National Register of Historic Places}}
{{Columbia Department}}


{{authority control}}
⚫
[[Category:Archaeological sites in Alaska]]
⚫
[[Category:National Historic Landmarks in Alaska]]
[[Category:Buildings and structures in Juneau City and Borough, Alaska]]
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[[Category:Hudson's Bay Company forts]]
⚫
[[Category:History of British Columbia]]
⚫
[[Category:1840 establishments]]
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[[Category:Former populated places in Alaska]]


⚫
[[Category:1840 establishments in the British Empire]]
{{Alaska-NRHP-stub}}
[[Category:Juneau, Alaska]]
[[Category:Colonial forts in Alaska|Durham]]
⚫
[[Category:Former populated places in Alaska]]
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[[Category:Pre-Confederation British Columbia]]
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[[Category:Hudson's Bay Company forts in the United States|Durham]]
[[Category:National Historic Landmarks in Alaska]]
⚫
[[Category:Archaeological sites on the National Register of Historic Places in Alaska]]
[[Category:National Register of Historic Places in Juneau, Alaska]]

Latest revision as of 08:40, 4 June 2022

"Fort Taku" redirects here. For the forts in China, see Taku Forts.
Fort Durham Site
Alaska Heritage Resources Survey
Fort Durham is located in Alaska
Fort Durham
LocationAddress restricted[2], Juneau City and Borough, Alaska, U.S.
Nearest cityJuneau, Alaska
Built1840
ArchitectJames Douglas
NRHP reference No.78000529[1]
AHRS No.JUN-036
Significant dates
Added to NRHPMay 5, 1978
Designated NHLJune 2, 1978[3]

Fort Durham, also known as Fort Taku, Taku, Taco, and Tacouw, is an archaeological site near Taku Harbor, Alaska, within the limits of Juneau City and Borough and Tongass National Forest. It was one of three Hudson's Bay Company (HBC) posts set up in Russian America.[4] The Fort Durham Site was declared a U.S. National Historic Landmark in 1978.[3]

Background[edit]

In 1834 the HBC tried to establish a post on the Stikine River, British rights to which had been one of the terms of the Russo-British Treaty of 1825. However, the effort was blocked by employees of the Russian American Company (RAC), on the orders of Governor Ferdinand von Wrangel. Several years were spent by the HBC attempting to seek financial compensation from the RAC in response to be being blocked access from the Stikine River. Late in 1838 the Imperial Russian Government ordered the RAC to settle their dispute with HBC, eventually leading to the signing of the RAC-HBC Agreement in early 1839. One of the main terms was a ten-year lease of what is today the Alaska Panhandle. The HBC was guaranteed the right to establish posts, hunt, and trade furs along the coast in exchange for furnishing Russian America with provisions and various food supplies.

Creation[edit]

Taking advantage of the agreement's terms immediately, the HBC sent James Douglas north in the Beaver in 1840. Douglas explored the Taku River and built Fort Durham (or Taku) on the coast just south of the river's mouth. He also took possession of Redoubt San Dionisio (Fort Saint Dionysius), which lay off the mouth of the Stikine River on Etolin Island, near today's Wrangell, Alaska (and renamed it Fort Stikine), which the Russians had agreed to transfer to the HBC under the 1839 lease agreement.[5]

Closure[edit]

In 1841 the HBC governor George Simpson ordered Fort Durham and other coastal posts closed, because the Beaver was able to conduct the coastal fur trade without the need for more than the single permanent post of Fort Simpson. The HBC closed operations at Fort Durham in 1843.[6] The majority of the 8 Hawaiian Kanakas employees at Fort Durham were reassigned to Fort Victoria.[7]

See also[edit]

References[edit]

  1. ^ "National Register Information System – (#78000529)". National Register of Historic Places. National Park Service. July 9, 2010.
  2. ^ Federal and state laws and practices restrict general public access to information regarding the specific location of this resource. In some cases, this is to protect archeological sites from vandalism, while in other cases it is restricted at the request of the owner. See: Knoerl, John; Miller, Diane; Shrimpton, Rebecca H. (1990), Guidelines for Restricting Information about Historic and Prehistoric Resources, National Register Bulletin, National Park Service, U.S. Department of the Interior, OCLC 20706997.
  3. ^ a b "Fort Durham Site". National Historic Landmark summary listing. National Park Service. Archived from the original on 2011-06-06. Retrieved 2007-12-28.
  4. ^ U.S. Geological Survey Geographic Names Information System: Fort Durham Site
  5. ^ Mackie, Richard Somerset (1997). Trading Beyond the Mountains: The British Fur Trade on the Pacific 1793-1843. Vancouver: University of British Columbia (UBC) Press. pp. 140–142. ISBN 0-7748-0613-3.
  6. ^ Mackie (1997), 142, 269–270.
  7. ^ Koppel, Tom. Kanaka, the Untold Story of Hawaiian Pioneers in British Columbia and the Pacific Northwest. Vancouver, B.C.: Whitcap Books. 1995, p. 54.
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