Around 260 reenactors dressed in period costumes to document what life was like back in the late 1700s. All photos by Tryg Solberg.

By Tryg Solberg - Boreal Community Media - August 14, 2023



Rendezvous Days at Grand Portage National Monument represents the historic congregation of the North West Company, Voyageurs, and Native Americans. The event occurs in tandem with the Grand Portage Rendezvous Days Celebration Pow-wow. 

For the 2023 event, the Rendezvous at the National Monument, which occurred during the second weekend of August, focused on the late 1700s. 

Volunteers and park rangers dress up in period costumes to reenact what life was like during this time (one of the event organizers said that there are approximately 260 people participating in the reenactments). Rendezvous Days visitors were able to view, learn about, and appreciate and admire the craftsmanship that was required centuries prior. Modern conveniences contrasted the laborious daily efforts that made survival during the fur trade period possible. 

The Grand Entry at the Grand Portage Pow-wow Grounds occurred up Store Road from the National Monument. Hundreds of attendees stood to honor the initial entry into the Pow-wow Grounds, which included a flag-raising ceremony and prayer. The celebration Pow-wow that followed included singers and drummers in the middle of the circular stands. The Grand Portage Rendezvous Days Celebration Pow-wow is sponsored by the Grand Portage Band of Lake Superior Chippewa.

Around 260 reenactors dressed in period costumes to document what life was like back in the late 1700s

 This Rendezvous participant is pictured explaining the use and background of the musket for the Voyageurs. The musket balls that the long Voyageur muskets take are up to "24 for the pound."

 Event participants cleaned up the equipment from an intense game of lacrosse played with period-correct clothing and gear.

 Two musicians kept the Great Hall building full of lively historic tunes. The Great Hall was reconstructed on site in 1938, burned in 1969 and rebuilt again in 1972. At nearly 3000 square feet, it offers a large space for gathering historic objects (the weaponry on the table) and visitors.

 The kitchen building, just north of the great hall building, hosted a demonstration of baking during the fur trade era.

 Meals cooked in historic fashion over open flames and in cast iron cookware.

 Around 260 reenactors dressed in period costumes to document what life was like back in the late 1700s

 Around 260 reenactors dressed in period costumes to document what life was like back in the late 1700s

 Hundreds of reenactors stay in period-correct canvas tents. They demonstrated how crafts, cooking and life occurred for those involved during the fur trade.

 Two birch bark canoes sat beside Lake Superior's shore with seams sewn with boiled spruce roots and sealed with a spruce sap mix.

 One gentleman's display of tools represents the fur-trade era.

 

 "Cottonwoods" came from Randolph, Minnesota and has been part of the Rendezvous for 20 yrs. He is baking homemade bread in a wood-fired oven that remains close to the original size and location at the fort.

 Hundreds of reenactors stay in period-correct canvas tents. They demonstrated how crafts, cooking and life occurred for those involved during the fur trade.

 Cars lined the streets of Store Road up to the Pow-wow grounds in Grand Portage. There was excellent attendance at the Pow-wow's Grand Entry on Saturday afternoon.