Fort Whoop-Up

Fort Whoop-Up
Fort Hamilton
Etymology	Nickname adopted as official name
Location	Alberta, Canada
Nearest city	Lethbridge
Coordinates	49°41′31″N 112°51′24″W / 49.69194°N 112.85667°W / 49.69194; -112.85667
Area	1.6 km (0.99 mi)
Founder	J.J. Healy, A.B. Hamilton
Built	1870 (1870)
Original use	Fur and Whisky Trading
Demolished	1915
Rebuilt	1967
Architect	William S. Gladstone
Owner	City of Lethbridge
Important events	Battle of the Belly River, NWMP March West 1874
Website	fort.galtmuseum.com
Location of Fort Whoop-Up in Alberta

Fort Whoop-Up was the nickname (eventually adopted as the official name) given to a whisky trading post, originally Fort Hamilton, near what is now Lethbridge, Alberta.^[1] During the late 19th century, the post served as a centre for trading activities, including the illegal whisky trade. The sale of whisky was outlawed but, due to the lack of law enforcement in the region prior to 1874, many whisky traders had settled in the area and taken to charging unusually high prices for their goods.

Fort Whoop-Up is also the name of a replica site and interpretive centre built in Indian Battle Park.