What Is Fort Mandan State Historic Site?
This is a reconstruction of the fort that Lewis & Clark and the Corps of Discovery built to spend the winter of 1804!
What Makes It Historical?
When winter snows kept the Corps of Discovery from moving forward on their journey to the coast, they had to settle in for two important tasks: survival and diplomacy! Survival at Fort Mandan was hard enough with poor hunting to feed the fort’s 40 residents, but it was the diplomacy that ensured their survival. In giving special preference to interpreters, the Corps met their neighbors, the Mandans, the Hidatsas, the Shoshone, and so on, and it was here that they met Toussaint Charbonneau and his wives, Otter Woman and Sacagawea!
Between November 16th, 1804 and April 7, 1805, the fort’s residents traded blacksmithing skills for food and clothing. They joined in local dances at the village called Mitutanka and made friendships with the local chiefs Black Cat and Shéheke-Shote, who accompanied them back to Washington, DC to meet President Jefferson! Ultimately, this stayover at Fort Mandan ensured the success of their adventure, because they left here with their guide, Sacagawea
The original fort burned down before the Corps returned this way, and the exact location has been lost to the ages. In 1972, the McClean County Historical Society built this replica fort from the same dimensions and primary materials as the original, along with a memorial to the Corps’ Newfoundland, named Seaman!
How Can I #HelpTheHelpers?
- Pay the entrance fee to help maintain trails, signs, structures, and other visitor services!
- Volunteer with the State Historical Society of North Dakota!
- Donate to the State Historical Society of North Dakota!
- Be a responsible visitor! Please respect the signs and pathways, and treat all structures and artifacts with respect. They’ve endured a lot to survive into the present. They’ll need our help to make it into the future!
How Do I Get There?
838 28th Ave SW
Washburn, ND 58577
(Take Me There!)
When Should I Visit?
Fort Mandan’s schedule is linked to the Lewis & Clark Interpretive Center, which is open daily from 9:00 AM until 5:00 PM (June 1 through July 31), Tuesday to Sunday from 10:00 AM until 5:00 PM (August 1 through September 30), and Monday to Saturday from 9:00 AM until 5:00 PM (October 1 until May 30)!
More Photos
