Old Fort William (Ontario)For over 200 years, Canada's most lucrative industry was based on a single fashion craze - the top hat. European demand for the under-felt of the beaver sparked intense exploration of North America. When it opened in 1807, Fort William became vital to the success of the North West Company. Using Fort William as a halfway point, they could move furs from west to east in a single season. Today, it is the largest and most comprehensive historical reconstruction of its kind, with authentic, costumed interpreters and 42 historic buildings set on a sprawling, 20-acre site.