8. Fort St. Joseph, Michigan
Along the banks of the St. Joseph River, Fort St. Joseph served as a vital link in the French fur trade network near present-day Niles. Over the decades, it shifted hands between French, British, and even Spanish forces, reflecting a truly multi-national history. Ongoing archaeological excavations continue to unearth artifacts that illuminate the daily lives and shifting allegiances of its diverse inhabitants. These discoveries are gradually restoring Fort St. Joseph’s place among America’s most intriguing, yet often forgotten, colonial fortifications.
