For a glimpse into the French Fur Trade Era, come visit the historic reenactor site of "Fort Bon Secours" (Fort of Good Aid and Assistance)! Fort Bon Secours was a Historical French Fort established by Nicholas Perrot in 1685 on the southwestern shores of Lake Pepin (Lake of Tears) across from the mouth of the Chippewa River (Riviere de Bon Secours). This location is in the proximity of Reeds Landing, Minnesota. The fort was occupied for approximately three to five years, and then was abandoned after Perrot was recalled from his western assignments in 1690. In 1697, Sieur Charles-Pierre La Sueur, the new commandant of the French fort at La Pointe (located on what is today Madeline Island in the Chequamegon Bay), built a second fort at this same site. The exact length of time this fort was occupied is uncertain, but it is believed to have been used for another three to five years. Subsequently, another three to five forts were built along the shores of Lake Pepin (a 35 mile long widening of the Mississippi River). The major reason for the French interest in this area was because at the time it served as the geographic center for a tribe of people know as the Sauntee Sioux or Eastern Sioux and more properly know today as the Dakota.

In 1993, the Habitants of New France, Inc., a historical reenactment group, decided to try and build French style fort as a home base in order to have a place to hold their historical reenactments, or rendezvous. After several aborted attempts, due mostly to financial considerations, to purchase land for a site near one of the original historic locations, it was decided to build the fort at its current location as a trial attempt and a learning experience for operating and maintaining such a facility. The present fort now stands on the south shore of Pike Lake, 10 miles north of Cadott, Wisconsin. The choice of the name Bon Secours, translated means "Fort of Good Aid or Assistance, was felt to fit in well with the group's goals and purposes regarding historical preservation and reenactments.

The Habitants have recreated the fort as a way to educate the public about the French fur trade era. Come and join-in or sit-back and watch as our interpreters portray an accurate representation of life as it was during the 18th Century at a French fur post.

All reenactment presentations and portrayals at our site are done in an entertaining "first person" style, designed to maximize for the audience a sense of realism! Step back in time, and visit with the early Explorers, Adventures, Missionaries, and Fur Traders of Western New France.

Fort Bon Secours has been established as a complete reenactment site with real activities from this time period being performed. See meals being prepared, clothes being washed, cannons fired, and religious ceremonies performed — all as they would have been done 300 years ago.

At the present time, the Fort Bon Secours site consists of the "Fort" complete with its Triangular Walls, Main Gate, Workshops, Trade House, Soldier's Quarters, and Grand Hall. The site also includes a period style Chapel and Tavern which helps to create the beginnings of a small French village in western New France. This site has all the necessary facilities for the enjoyment and entertainment of its guests, including an Indian village, Shooting Range, Primitive Bow Walk, and a Tomahawk Throwing area. The site can easily accommodate 30-40 reenactment camps and provides the usual, wood, water, ice and toilet facilities for its "participant campers".

The Fort holds a number of events or rendezvous that are open to the public throughout the year. Click here to view more information about our events. Come see, hear, taste, touch, and smell life as it was in early colonial New France and become part of the story--See history come alive!