Prince of Wales Fort National Historic Site on Hudson Bay near Churchill, Manitoba is a massive 18th-century stone fortress built by the Hudson's Bay Company between 1731 and 1771 to protect lucrative fur trade interests. Constructed in the distinctive European 'star' shape with four protruding bastions, the fort's outer walls measured 6.5 meters high and 11 meters thick with 40 cannon mounted along its parapet to command every approach. Despite its formidable design, the fort was briefly captured by French forces in 1782 but never saw major battle. Partially restored and designated a national historic site in 1920, Prince of Wales Fort remains one of Churchill's main tourist attractions, reflecting the French-English rivalry for control of Hudson Bay resources during the colonial era.
