Theodore Roosevelt National Park

WESTERN TOUR

Western North Dakota provides a real taste of the Great American West with Native Americans, frontier and fur trade, national parks and historic sites, as well as a look into how the state of North Dakota developed.

There are many additional activities in every area. Groups can participate in kayaking, horseback riding, hiking, biking, swimming, Fort Union Trading Post National Historic Site golfing and more. Please check the North Dakota travel guide for these additional activities.

Day 1 — Williston Area to State Historic Site — Minot A military post established at the confluence of the Yellowstone and Morning — Williston Area Missouri rivers in 1866. It was a supply Fort Union Trading Post depot and the site of Chief Sitting Bull’s National Historic Site — surrender in 1881. Nez Perce Chief The stately fort near the Joseph was imprisoned here. confluence of the Missouri and Earthlodge Village Yellowstone rivers dominated Fairview Bridge and Cartwright the fur trade on the Upper Tunnel — Built in the early 1900s, the between 1829 bridge was made for both rail and and 1867. Fur traders and vehicle traffic. Both now closed to train Native Americans co-existed and vehicle traffic, but both are open peacefully before the Indian for exploration by foot. Wars. Hugh Glass of “The Revenant” was a hunter here. Afternoon/Evening — New Town, Parshall and Minot Missouri-Yellowstone Earthlodge Village — The Three Four Bears Bridge/Lake Sakakawea Confluence Interpretive Affiliated Tribes’ Living Earthlodge Center — Museum at the Village on the shore of Lake Sakakawea confluence of the two great includes native gardens and interpreters rivers tells of the area’s to help with self-guided tours. importance during settlement era.

Fort Three Tribes Museum — Displays Roosevelt Zoo — More than Afternoon — Stanton and of artifacts relating to Mandan, 200 mammals, birds and reptiles, Washburn and tribal history. giraff es, zebras, wolves, camels, Knife River Indian Villages Also traditional Native American bison, snow leopards and a white National Historic Site — The arts, crafts and books. Bengal tiger are on display. This site has the ruins of an ancient village last occupied Four Bears Bridge — The longest Day 2 — Minot to Bismarck/ in 1845 by the Hidatsa and bridge in North Dakota, spanning Mandan Mandan. A state-of-the- nearly a mile of Lake Sakakawea, art museum dedicated to honors 19 tribal chiefs of the Morning — Minot and Lake preserving the culture of the Mandan, Hidatsa and Arikara Sakakawea Plains Indians is on site, as is tribes. Dakota Territory Air Museum — a reconstructed earthlodge Displays showcase the rich and containing artifacts from the Crow Flies High State Recreation varied story of region’s aviation Plains Indian culture and more Area — This scenic overlook just history. Home to the Texas Flying than 60 ground depressions. west of New Town provides views Legends Museum Aircraft and This is where Lewis and Clark of Four Bears Bridge and Lake military and civilian aircraft from met Sakakawea in 1804. Sakakawea. During periods of low 1903 through the present. water, glimpses can be seen of Lewis And Clark Interpretive the town of Sanish, now covered Lake Sakakawea And Garrison Center — This interpretive by Lake Sakakawea. Dam — Largest man-made lake site along the route Lewis and within one state, the lake is 609 Clark traveled has exhibits Paul Broste Rock Museum — A square miles behind Garrison Dam and artifacts from every tribe private collector’s rock exhibit and named in honor of the young the explorers encountered features rocks from all over the Native American woman who and showcases the culture world in a building made of accompanied Lewis and Clark. The of the Mandan Indians and natural granite quarried from the mile-long earthen dam provides the winter of 1804-1805. The area. fl ood control and generates Bergquist Gallery features a electricity. Tours of the powerhouse rare set of the artworks of Scandinavian Heritage Park — are conducted daily. Swiss artist Karl Bodmer. A tribute to Scandinavian and American heritage features typical Norwegian house, Norwegian stabbur, Danish Windmill and large Dala Horse (national symbol of Sweden). WESTERN NORTH DAKOTA TOUR

Fort Mandan — The Five Nations Arts — In Mandan, reconstructed site of Fort find authentic Native American Mandan, winter home of Lewis paintings, jewelry, sculptures and and Clark in 1804-1805, on the baskets, hand-crafted by local banks of the Missouri River. Daily artists. interpretative tours are given. Afternoon Evening — Bismarck/Mandan North Dakota Capitol Building: Lewis And Clark Riverboat — Tour the 19-story capitol building, See the Missouri River on a built in the early 1930s, and get Fort Abraham Lincoln State Park cruise aboard the 100-foot bird’s-eye view of area from the paddle-wheeler that features observation deck. twin decks and a 70-foot cabin. Regular, dinner and sunset North Dakota Heritage Center cruises depart in the afternoon. And State Museum — The 97,000-square-foot, $52-million Day 3 — Bismarck/ facility tells the history of North Dakota through new galleries Mandan that take guests from the Ice Age Morning to present day. Its collections of Plains Indian artifacts is second Fort Abraham Lincoln State only to the Smithsonian. Cafe on Park — This 977-acre park along site and museum gift shop offers the Missouri River south of North Dakota arts and crafts. Mandan has a 300-year history dating back to time a when On- Former Governor’s Mansion ND Heritage Center and State Museum A-Slant was home to Mandan State Historic Site — Restored to Indians. The site, with a number late Victorian era, housed North of on-site attractions, was a Dakota’s governors from 1893 to military garrison in the mid- to 1960. late-1800s and the final home of Lt. Col. George Custer, whose house can be toured today. Day 4 — Bismarck/Mandan Earthlodges in what was once to Dickinson a thriving village are open for tours. It was from this fort that Assumption Abbey — Visit this Custer and the 7th Cavalry rode historic Catholic church built in to the Little Bighorn. The Fort 1904. The Abbey library, gift shop, McKeen Blockhouses overlook wine cellar and shop are open by the cavalry post at the river. request.

Fort Lincoln Trolley — A Enchanted Highway — Become restored trolley car offers a enchanted on the Enchanted Enchanted Highway round-trip ride from Mandan Highway in western North Dakota. to Fort Abraham Lincoln State Giant metal sculptures line the Park daily on the hour during the highway leading from Gladstone summer months (Memorial Day to Regent. The Enchanted Castle to Labor Day). in Regents awaits travelers. Dickinson Museum Center/ Theodore Roosevelt National Park, Joachim Museum/Prairie North Unit — The unit’s scenic drive Outpost Park — Three sites is 14 miles and has turnouts with in one location. The museum spectacular views and interpretive center features a dinosaur exhibit signs. Nature trails are self-guided with life-size Triceratops and through coulees and breaks. Visit the Pachycephalosaurus outside prairie dog town, Oxbow Overlook and Dickinson Museum Center the entrance and 10 full-scale the Edge of Glacier Pullout. dinosaurs in a central display. Joachim Museum is a tribute to regional history with artifacts and Day 6 — Watford City to displays from southwest North Dakota. Prairie Outpost Park has Medora several historic buildings. Theodore Roosevelt National Park, South Unit — The North Dakota Badlands provide the scenic Day 5 — Dickinson To backdrop to the park named for the Watford City 26th President. It memorializes his Theodore Roosevelt National Park Killdeer Mountain Battlefield contribution to conservation. Stop State Historic Site — This historic at the visitors center and Theodore site commemorates a battle Roosevelt’s cabin from the Maltese fought on July 28, 1864, between Cross Ranch then take a drive into the 2,200 troops and 6,000 Sioux park to see buffalo, deer, elk, bighorn Indians. An interpretive plaque sheep, wild horses, mule deer and explains the battle. prairie dog towns.

Little Missouri State Park — Options — Take a trail ride through Enjoy a wilderness experience in the Badlands or go hiking through the the picturesque North Dakota Badlands on the Maah Daah Hey Trail. Badlands. An extensive trail system Bike along trails through the Badlands Little Missouri State Park is for hiking and horseback riding. to see nature and wildlife. Corrals are available for those bringing their own horses. Chateau de Mores State Historic Site — Elegant 26-room home of The Long X Visitor Center — the famous French nobleman who This central location for general founded Medora was built in 1883, one visitor information on the area’s of the three mansions on the prairie. cultural, geological, historical and geographic attractions North Dakota Cowboy Hall of Pitchfork Fondue is home to North Dakota’s Fame — Interpretive center for the largest, petrified tree stump — a history of Native Americans, ranching, 17,000-pound Bald Cypress tree. rodeo and the western lifestyle of the The 60 million-year-old tree Plains and Badlands. See Sitting Bull’s stump was discovered during a headdress! paleontological excavation in the Badlands south of Watford City. Pitchfork Fondue — A unique western Long X Visitor Center is within steak meal cooked cowboy style and the Pioneer Museum of McKenzie served at the Tjaden Terrace on the County. bluffs overlooking Medora

Mckenzie County Heritage Park Medora Musical — Sit back and enjoy — See the original trapper’s log a colorful Broadway-style variety show Chateau de Mores cabin, homestead shack, one- in the spectacular outdoor Burning room school and original 1915 Hills Amphitheatre. Schafer Law Office and mammoth fossil bones discovered in the area.