The first fort constructed in the locality was La Reine 1738 constructed by Vérendrye at the beginning of the portage. In 1796 the Hudson's Bay Co. built a fort on the site of or near the old French fort which they had occupied after the withdrawal of the French garrison. This fort was sometimes called Assiniboine River fort and later Portage-la-Prairie. In September 1813 McLeod built an enlargement to the fort of 1796 which the H. B. Co. continued to operate until about 1870. The North West Co. also constructed a fort at the Portage mentioned by McDonnell in his journal of 1794. Harmon in 1805 described this as "a miserable fort but beautifully situated". It was sometimes called Fort Des Prairies or Fort La Reine.

This site was always famous in the western fur trade. Fort La Reine was one of the chief French trading posts until the cession of Canada. After that it was occupied by the Hudson's Bay Co. who remained until 1870. The portage was 12 miles across to lake Manitoba. Goods were carried by the French on this portage to Fort Dauphin. The portage began 5 miles below Poplar House, just below a willow covered island in the river. The present city Portage la Prairie occupies the site. The place was also called Prairie portage, Meadow, and Plain portage.