North West Company was formed in New France after the British conquest of the territory. They collected firs from inland Canada, shipped them to Europe for the hat and other clothing trade. This fort was named Fort William in 1807 after William McGillivray, chief director of the North West Company from 1804-1821. Annually for two weeks late in July, trappers would gather here to trade their pelts (mostly beaver) for trade goods of all kinds shipped in from Europe by way of Montreal. After the union of the North West Company with the Hudson's Bay Company (HBC) in 1821, the fort lost its raison d'être because most trade shifted to York Factory on Hudson Bay. This is now a re-creation near the original location staffed with tradespeople in character for 1816 that show and tell the history to visitors.