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Washburn, North Dakota Directory


                                                            
  
                                          
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Washburn, North Dakota  

Your admission to the Lewis and Clark Interpretive Center
includes exploring Fort Mandan.

For additional information contact:
North Dakota Lewis and Clark
Bicentennial Foundation
P.O. Box 607
Washburn, North Dakota  58577
Or Call:
1 - 701- 462-8535
1-877-462-8535
Or email us!


GPS Coordinates:
 47 ° 17. 55 N
101°  05.19 W


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States with Indian Names >>

Native American Designs & Colors >>

Early Woman's Botanists >>

Medicine Women >>

Sacagawea >>

Sacagawea Golden Dollar >>

Cache Pits >>

Salmon >>

Buffalo >>

Lewis & Clark among the Tribes >>

George Drouillard >>

Pierre Cruzatte >>

Knife River Indian Villages >>

Nez Perce National Park >>

Indian Burial Canoe >>

Legend of Multnomah Falls >>

WELCOME TO FORT MANDAN
NATIONAL HISTORIC SITE
 Fort Mandan

The winter headquarters (1804-1805) for the Corps of Discovery was constructed by the Expedition and named after their Native American hosts. (Photo credit: North Dakota Tourism)


  • November 20, 1804:  "We this day moved into our huts which are now completed.  This place which we call Fort Mandan, is situated in a point of low ground, on the north side of the Missouri, covered with tall and heavy cottonwood".  Captain Clark

This site, located a few miles downstream from the actual site, is a full-sized reconstruction of the trapezoidal fort.  Click here to view the replica.

  • November 20, 1804: " The works consist of two rows of huts or sheds, forming an angle where they joined each other; each row containing four rooms, of 14 feet square and 7 feet high, with plank ceiling, and the roof slanting so as to form a loft above the rooms, the highest point of which is 18 feet from the ground". Captain Clark

It is here that the explorers were befriended by the area's Native Americans who taught them how to gather food and cope with the frigid temperatures.  Sakakawea's (Hidatsa spelling) son, Baptiste, was also born at the fort.

  • December 7, 1804: "the Big White Grand Chief of the 1st village, came and informed us that a large Drove of Buffalow was near and his people was waiting for us to join them in a chase."Captain Clark 

  • December 8 - 25, 1804 

  • January 5, 1805: "a Buffalo Dance for 3 nights passed in the 1st Village, a curious custom, all this is to cause the buffalow to Come near So that they may kill."  Captain Clark

  • January 10, 1805:  "last night was excessively Cold the Murckery this morning Stood at 40 ° below 0 which is 72° below the freesing point, about 10 oClock the boy about 13 years of age Came to the fort with his feet frosed and had layed out last night without fire with only a Buffalow Robe to Cover him, Customs & the habits of those people has them to bare more Cold than I thought it possible for man to endure."  Captain Clark
     

  • February 11, 1805: " about five oClock this evening one of the wives of Charbono (Sakakawea) was delivered of a fine boy." Captain Clark

How cold was the Winter of 1804 and 1805?

The winter was one of the harshest the Corp of Discovery had ever spent. The Keelboat was frozen solid in the Missouri River and the hunt for food was never ending. The men however enjoyed the winter in what is now North Dakota. They spent many nights celebrating with the Indians, dancing and playing music. Except for a few mentions of cold in the journals, the men looked forward to returning to Fort Mandan in 1806.

 

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Still planning your trip? Find events on the LewisandClarkTrail.com events calendar, read travel stories and then finish planning your trip by booking your hotel and making hotel reservations at LewisandClarkTrail.com.

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Whether you're planning a weekend getaway or a week-long vacation, LewisandClarkTrail.com is your online connection for hotel reservations. Know where you want to go? Search for the hotel rooms by clicking on the city that you plan to explore.  Still planning your trip? Find events on the LewisandClarkTrail.com events calendar, read travel stories and then finish planning your trip by booking your hotel and making hotel reservations at LewisandClarkTrail.com.