Trading post

[Noah]

I’m just curious, how do you find old trade posts when there’s no longer a building there?

[OxShoeDrew]

I hope someone chimes in for you, Noah. Are trading posts common in your area?
We are able to locate old homesteads because their cellar holes have stone basements which are still visible...but once in a while we find cabin sites from the first settlers. They don't have cellar holes but if you stumble on one you start hearing iron in the middle of nowhere. I've only found a few cabin sites.
I'm curious to learn more about your trading posts.

[Full Metal Digger]

Noah, try going to historicmapworks. com and look for the oldest map of your county. For my county of St. Clair the oldest is 1864. You may find a reference "old trading post" or "old cabin" or "fmr cabin." The other way is through historical accounts, i.e. a diary entry such as "we stopd and eet at one-eyed Frenchy tradin post 8 miles south of Brault farm."

[Noah]

I've only found a few sites for trading posts, and almost every time it's followed by a "no you can't detect the site." It's also just by accident that I find out. Property owners bragging about the history of the building or land.

I hope someone chimes in for you, Noah. Are trading posts common in your area?
We are able to locate old homesteads because their cellar holes have stone basements which are still visible...but once in a while we find cabin sites from the first settlers. They don't have cellar holes but if you stumble on one you start hearing iron in the middle of nowhere. I've only found a few cabin sites.
I'm curious to learn more about your trading posts.

[Noah]

Thanks Dave. I've never looked at a map that identified trading posts. I do see detectorists like Hoover Boys talking about "this was a trading post bla bla blaaa. Just assumed it was just by chance people found out.

Noah, try going to historicmapworks. com and look for the oldest map of your county. For my county of St. Clair the oldest is 1864. You may find a reference "old trading post" or "old cabin" or "fmr cabin." The other way is through historical accounts, i.e. a diary entry such as "we stopd and eet at one-eyed Frenchy tradin post 8 miles south of Brault farm."

[TC-NM]

I use google earth program (downloaded free) and I also use alot of reference (in my library) pertaining to or tied to near Forts. There's a great book titled: Butterfield Overland Mail, 1857-1869 set. By Roscoe P Conkling and Margaret B Conkling.

Hope this helps, TC-NM

[Ill Digger]

I use google earth program (downloaded free) and I also use alot of reference (in my library) pertaining to or tied to near Forts. There's a great book titled: Butterfield Overland Mail, 1857-1869 set. By Roscoe P Conkling and Margaret B Conkling.

Hope this helps, TC-NM

Do those documents reference old trading posts near forts?

[milco]

Trading posts can mean different things to different people and can refer to different types of places or establishments depending on your locale and/or the time period. I'm not sure where you are at Noah, but in the Midwest and Great Lakes region when people say "trading posts" most people are referring to fur trade era sites. That said, some are documented, but many are typically very undocumented and date from the 1690's to 1820's. Find them requires a lot of research and being a good student of history, and some luck doesn't always hurt.

[milco]

I’m just curious, how do you find old trade posts when there’s no longer a building there?

What part of the US are you in?

[Digger Don]

He lives in Northern Illinois

[Ill Digger]

What part of the US are you in?

He lives in Northern Illinois

Yeah Darren, he's a FIB like me and Don.
You know Fine Illinois Boy

[TC-NM]

Do those documents reference old trading posts near forts?

I live here in AZ, born in NM so I'm familiar to the SW only. You are going to have to do your homework and research in what specific(s) you want. Another great book I use is titled: "New Mexico Frontier Military Place Names" by Daniel C.B. Rathbun & David V. Alexander. In where you live in N. Illinois, I don't know?

Good Luck, TC-NM