Little Rapids Fur Post Historical Marker Traditional Geocache
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Little Rapids Fur Post Historical Marker
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Difficulty:
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Size: 
(small)
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Cache is located at a historical marker commemorating the Little
Rapids Fur Trading Post.
The
Fur Trade in Carver County
by Suzie Armstrong
(http://www.carvercountyhistoricalsociety.org/150th/150th_online_exhibits_fur_trade.html)
accessed 6/15/2010
The fur trade in Minnesota started in the 17th century with mostly
French traders traveling into the interior of the new country of
America. However, it wasn't until the end of the 18th century that
activity really escalated for the Minnesota fur trade. Many
different fur companies operated in Minnesota, but the two biggest
were the British-run North West Fur Company and the American Fur
Company.
The North West Fur Company formed in 1787 and there is
archeological evidence of a post at Little Rapids. Little Rapids
was a fur post just south of present day Carver along the Minnesota
River. After the War of 1812, and the subsequent removal of the
British from the territory in 1815, the post began operating under
the auspices of John Jacob Astor's fledgling fur company, the
American Fur Company.
Perhaps the best known traders at the Little Rapids post were the
Faribaults. Jean Baptist Faribault was a French Canadian from
Québec. His father and uncle were Notaries, or lawyers, for the
government and expected Jean Baptist to follow in their footsteps.
Instead, Jean Baptist started working as a trader for different fur
companies. He worked for both the Northwest Fur Company and the
American Fur Company. He first arrived at the post at Little Rapids
during the 1803/4 season. It was here that he met his wife Pelagie.
Jean Baptist and Pelagie moved in 1808 to Prairie du Chien,
Wisconsin. Other traders operated at the post until the 1830s when
Jean Baptist returned and ran the post with the help of his sons
Alexander and Oliver.
In 1834 Astor sold his company to Ramsey Crooks, and Henry Hastings
Sibley became the Factor (regional manager) of the Western or Sioux
Outfit of the American Fur Company. His region included the post at
Little Rapids.
Fur Hat Many different kinds of furs were traded, but it was the
beaver that was most desirable. Beaver fur was especially good for
making the tall top hats that were the fashion of the time.
Sometimes otter and muskrat were used in combination to make hats.
In fact, muskrats were more common in this area of Minnesota than
beaver. There were so many muskrats that often prices at the post
were written in muskrat pelts. For example, a gun might cost 60
rats. Other desirable furs included buffalo, bear, fisher, ermine,
fox and wolf.
The relationship between the Dakota and the traders evolved over
time. The Dakota welcomed the first French fur traders and
explorers in the 1600s. The traders brought new goods like axes,
guns, and glass beads. The French traders married Indian women and
learned their language and customs. The two cultures became like
families, with all the responsibilities that go along with kinship
ties. The Dakota didn't see the fur trade as buying and selling,
but as an exchange of gifts between family members.
When the British took over the fur trade in the late 1700s, and the
Americans in the early 1800s, the Indians tried to create the same
kind of relationships they had had with the French traders. The
referred to "Grandmother England" and "The Great Father in
Washington." But the British and the Americans didn't understand
the importance of the kinship bond, and Indian-White relations
deteriorated. The 1851 signing of the Treaty at Travers de Sioux
essentially ended the fur trade in much of Minnesota.
In Regards to the Historical Marker:
The Chaska Historical Marker was built in 1938 by the MHD. It is
one of 18 stone,
free-standing, shrine-type historic markers recorded in this
inventory. It is one of more than
60 sites in this inventory that were designed by, or whose designed
is attributed to, A. R.
Nichols.
This property has been evaluated within the historic context
"Roadside Development on
Minnesota Trunk Highways, 1920-1960." It is recommended that the
property is ELIGIBLE
for the National Register under this historic context because it
meets the following registration
requirements:
Non-Federal Relief Property That Closely Resembles a Federal Relief
Property. The Chaska
Historical Marker is an excellent example of a Non-Federal relief
property, built during the
Depression, which strongly represents the same design principles
and philosophy as the federal
relief-built roadside development sites. (National Register
Criterion A.)
Significant to the History of Roadside Development. The Chaska
Historical Marker is one of
68 Depression-era properties in this inventory. These sites
represent the MHD's first large-scale
effort to construct roadside development facilities in the state.
The site is an excellent
example of the distinctive and well-constructed public facilities
that were built by the MHD
during this period, often in partnership with federal relief
agencies. (National Register Criterion
A.)
Design Significance. Chaska is an excellent example of the
application of the National Park
Service Rustic Style to a highway wayside rest. It has stonework of
high quality and displays
the special labor-intensive construction techniques and distinctive
use of indigenous materials
characteristic of federal relief construction. (National Register
Criterion C.)
The property may also be associated with the "Tourism and
Recreation in the Lake Regions,
1870-1945" historic context.
Additional Hints
(No hints available.)