museum of the fur trade

pinkhat_7

excellent, world-class quality museum focused just on North America's fur trade period. Room after room of well displayed and cared for artifacts. You could spend a whole day going slowly through.

Dalnan

This was a stop on our swing through Colorado, Nebraska and South Dakota. Very worthwhile to visit here if you are in the area. We were pleasantly surprised at how many artifacts along with a tremendous amount of information about the fur trade is included here. Very well displayed and presented. We were on a bit of a time schedule and should have allowed at least 2 hours to absorb everything here.

VNE

I wasn't interested in learning about fur traders. But my husband and I were not on a tight schedule and were passing through, so decided we'd check out the museum, support the local economy with our admission fee, and leave in five minutes if it was rinky-dink. Were we ever impressed! After the 10-minute video on the history of trading, we decided we had already received our admission fee's worth. It was very informative and interesting. Then we wandered the galleries and were completely impressed by the variety and quality of the exhibits. What a fascinating collection––and educational, as well.We talked with the person staffing the gift shop after wandering through the various exhibit areas (which included a trip outside to a sod warehouse and trading post) and were extremely impressed by the scholarly and professional work they have done and continue to do at the museum. We didn't expect much going in, but that was our ignorance. This museum is well worth your time.

OliverS934

The museum is open May to October, but I was in the area in November and gave them a call. To my greatest surprise (and pleasure) we made an appointment to visit. And what a treat it was! A modest admission gives you access to a treasure trove of historical materials from the Old West. It's labeled Fur Trade Museum, but this is somewhat misleading: it's much more than fur: it's Indian stories, it's Trappers Rendezvous, it's firearms and fabrics and trade of all kinds, and the story of John Jacob Astor's fortune and more and more. A Civil engineer by the name of Charles E. Hanson Jr., who was instrumental in organizing the museum, left them his extensive firearms collection including several guns from the Civil War times. And to top all this, the gift shop sells original antiques, at very reasonable prices. Great place!

786vickis

This small museum presents and represents one of the most authentic collection of artifacts we have ever seen. We traveled to this museum on purpose because or recommendations by friends, not by accident. Allow yourself at least 3 hours to appreciate all the items there are. If some of the Native American History upsets you-good! We did do those things in our Westward Expansion. This museum will educate you.

ByGeorge75

This museum sits at the site of an earlier fur trading post run by the Bordeaux brothers for the John Jacob Astor Fur Company. It's near Chadron in Nebraskas only mountainous area not too fasr froom the Black Hills, Wounded Knee and the Pine Ridge Reservation. This was Sioux country, treeless, arid and either too hot or too cold. The museum shows all of this, explains the communication between fur buyers and the Indians, shows original equipment, especially fire arms, modes of living, transportaion and dress. It is a first rate operation for any affecionado of Americas period of westward exploration. If you are in the museum bookshop look for Perilous Paths.

ShariMcMinn

All my adult life I have wanted to come here and bring my kids. Finally did and we were not disappointed. Age 10 to 25, plus me all loved it and were enthralled by the unique and interesting artifacts that are so well displayed. I particularly loved the textile room with indian blankets, robes, and historic fabrics. Amazing firearms collection. Even a narwhale tusk is exhibited. I know a lot of history, but never really put it together that the fur trade is what started the development of North America. Great gift shop, and a huge library for historic enthusiasts. The only negative comment was I didn't think the owner was a friendly as she could have been. She never had children, and she didn't necessarily appreciate mine even though they were very well behaved and appropriately inquisitive and interested. Her loss. We loved the place.

Haggis3tr

I LOVED this museum!! I was fascinated by the Native American beadwork. I also enjoyed going into an old trading post. I had just finished reading Morning River, by Michael Gear, so was interested in an authentic trading post related to the fur trade.

gibby2

I thought we would see just "another small town museum." However, this museum is really world class. The displays are wonderful. They are very detailed. Lots of explanations and descriptions. The collections of rifles was very comprehensive. I am so glad we stopped. This museum covers the whole history of the fur-trade from the Arctic to the Plains, with most of it New World history. I learned something at this museum!

LynnP99

We were surprised but delighted with this small town museum. The exhibits were excellent, the volunteers friendly and quite knowledgeable. And the books available for purchase were impressive. Definitely worth a stop when you're in the area!

snochasr

"The range and scope of the museum's collection are simply dazzling. It represents every type of object exchanged by Europeans and Americans with the native people of North America" says the website, and they are correct. I was surprised because, when I think of the "fur trade" I think of the mountain men and beaver, but this one begins with the British deerskin trade with the Easter tribes, and includes the Southeast Florida Seminole, the Northwest Haida, and the Southwest Zunis. It includes animal hides and parts from deer, buffalo, seal, whale, skunk, beaver and more. It also includes the many trade goods the Native Americans received, and how they were used. The clothing and beadwork were just amazing. It takes a bit more than an hour if you study everything, but that's skipping the huge firearms collection.

DeborahinTX

This was a little out of our way, but I am glad we stopped there. Anyone who has an interest in antique guns, should visit. The replica of the fur trade building out back was interesting. Don't miss going out back if you stop here. There was a sign to watch for rattlesnakes but we did not see any snakes.

AF_Hiker

There are a lot of artifacts from around the world concerning the fur trade at this museum. They have a 10 minute film available that is interesting. I learned about the history of the fur trade, and how many countries, as well as different cultures, got into this business. Nice collection of old Indian rifles. There was also a nice display about the Voyageurs, the people who rowed the canoes filled with furs for miles on rivers across the country. Outside, there is an old storage cabin, trading post, and Indian garden and Teepee. The bookstore had a nice variety as well. Definitely worth a stop.

Tjshade

This relatively small museum has a nice collection of artifacts of the fur trade. There are also some interesting pioneer era buildings out back that give you an idea what life was like on the prairie.

GeraldW619

I didn't know what to expect and am glad that I stopped. Knowing a little of the fur trade through Fort Michilimackinac this museum impressed me by filling me in about the extent of the multinational trade in early North America. And, I was surprised at the coverage of the Voyageurs.Perhaps there could have been more to tie things together in terms of its impacts upon the life of other colonists and natives as well as the economics of the trade. But that is generally more than a casual visitor would want.