Discover

'Old Fort Providence', located near the mouth of Yellowknife Bay, Northwest Territories, Canada, was one of the first fur trading outposts on Great Slave Lake. It was established in 1786 by Peter Pond of the Northwest Company and later (1789) operated by Sir Alexander Mackenzie. Research has suggested that the post was used primarily as a supply center for other, more northern trading posts, and that very little actual trading took place here. The Hudson's Bay Company took over the post in 1821, but the settlement was in decline and it was closed in 1823. The buildings have long since decayed but the ruins were excavated in 1969-1971.
The site should not be confused with the settlement of the same name, located on the Mackenzie River. (see Fort Providence, Northwest Territories)