Fur Trade
David Thompson First Sees the Thompson Falls Prairie, 1809
Thompson Falls, Sanders County
On October 14, 1809, fur trader and mapmaker David Thompson looked out on the Clark Fork prairie that would become Thompson Falls. Working for the North West Company in country still barely charted by Europeans, he and his party were moving from Lake Pend Oreille toward Kootenai country.
They returned in November to build Saleesh House, a trading post that anchored British commerce in what is now northwestern Montana. Thompson’s surveys and journals later gave geographers a precise picture of rivers American explorers were only beginning to understand.
The town that took his name sits on that same prairie. October 14 marks an early European waypoint on the Clark Fork—and the start of a post that tied Montana’s mountains to a continental fur trade.
Frequently asked questions
What happened on October 14 in Montana history?
David Thompson First Sees the Thompson Falls Prairie, 1809. On October 14, 1809, fur trader and mapmaker David Thompson looked out on the Clark Fork prairie that would become Thompson Falls. Working for the North West Company in country still barely charted by Europeans, he and his party were moving from Lake Pend Oreille toward Kootenai country.
Where did this take place?
This October 14 event is associated with Thompson Falls, Sanders County.
When did this event happen?
It took place in 1809, on October 14.
Why does this day matter in Montana history?
The town that took his name sits on that same prairie. October 14 marks an early European waypoint on the Clark Fork—and the start of a post that tied Montana’s mountains to a continental fur trade.
Topics: David Thompson · Saleesh House · fur trade · Clark Fork · 1809