French fort on Michipicoten bay, lake Superior, at the mouth of Magpie river, on the south side. It was one of the old French forts said to have been built long before 1750 (possibly about 1700) and spoken of as an old fort in 1765. It was one of the chief French forts on lake Superior and is mentioned by Bougainville in his list of 1757 as corresponding to Fort "Kamanistigwia" at the northwest limit of lake Superior. It commanded the route by way of Missinaibi lake and river to Moose river and James bay. During the French regime the posts on the north shore of lake Superior constituted the main source of fur supply from the west and northwest. In 1739 Beauharnois granted to Marin and Douville a congé de traite at the post of Michipicoten.

After the cession of Canada, the North West Company took over this fort. A. Henry wintered there in 1767. At the date of union 1821 both the North West Co. and the Hudson's Bay Co. operated posts at Michipicoten. In 1821 the Hudson's Bay Co. took over the old fort and maintained it until about 1900 when it was closed. For many years this factory was the principal Hudson's Bay Co. post on the north shore of lake Superior, from which a number of smaller posts in the interior were supplied. The route to James bay occupied about 16 days. It was a superior post with many and large buildings situated on the south side of the river about half a mile from the mouth. Its location is shown on Arrowsmith map of 1796 and 1832 (No. 101).