Fort Abraham Lincoln State Park and Fargo

Our first stop in North Dakota was Ft. Abraham Lincoln State Park, which is in Mandan (near Bismarck). I really didn’t know much about this park, but it was a good stop for us while traveling from Rapid City to Fargo. We stayed for two nights, and the first thing we noticed about the campground was how spacious the RV sites were and the many deer that roam the area throughout the day. There were several when we pulled up, and we spotted two or three every time we were outside of the camper.

We soon learned that this North Dakota state park had an interesting history and plenty for us to do. We stopped at the visitors center, where we learned about the Mandan Indians, who first occupied the site. The girls played a matching game, identifying tools (made mostly from bison) that these early Native Americans used in their daily lives. They were pretty happy to be rewarded with candy by the park ranger, once they got all the items right (with a tiny bit of help from us – mostly Ray).

We were also able to visit On-A-Slant Indian Village, which consists of reconstructed earth lodges that show the lifestyle of the Mandan Indians, who lived there from about 1575-1781 (North Dakota Parks and Recreation).

The park ranger, who we learned was an Air Force veteran, kept the fun going and taught everyone a game that the Mandan used to play. Ray, apparently the most athletic of the group taking the tour, won the game. After the tour ended, the ranger quizzed the girls on the Mandan Indians, and they got more candy for every correct answer, which led them to ask if Ray and I can quiz them on places we go in the future (for candy, of course). That’s a no.

We learned that the Mandan made permanent villages of earth lodges, which are pretty cozy. I really think I could be quite comfortable in one for an extended period of time. They were also a matriarchal society. Women outnumbered men four to one, and they built most of the lodges. The men did the hunting, and the women were responsible for domestic duties. They relied heavily on the buffalo, using every part of the animal. Smallpox wiped most of the tribe out in 1837. The remaining members later banded with the Hidatsa and started another settlement.

Fort Abraham Lincoln State Park was later a very important infantry and cavalry post. In 1872, a military post named Fort McKeen was established where the Mandan once lived. Seventy-eight permanent buildings were constructed as part of this post. The first post commander was Lt. Col. George A. Custer, who remained commander until his death in 1876 at the Battle of the Little Bighorn.

I have to admit that I really wasn’t up on my history on Custer. I knew the name, of course, but I’m no military history buff, so I associated him only with the Civil War and Custer’s Last Stand (which was actually the Battle of the Little Bighorn). We learned some things: Custer graduated last in his class at West Point, holds the record for the most demerits given at the prestigious school, was the youngest Civil War general, and was court martialed a couple of times.

Some greatly respected Custer and his bravery, as well as his rise to such a high position at an extremely early age (a general at 23). He led soldiers to kill whole villages of Native Americans, as the government worked to expand in the west. Some would say he followed military orders, while others would argue he killed women and children and stole land. Both arguments would be correct.

We toured the Custer House, a reconstruction of the home Custer and his wife lived in while on the post, and our guide remained in character the whole time (which was awkward, but we played along).

 

We left Fort Abraham Lincoln State Park and headed East to Fargo, which is just before the Minnesota state line. We actually were back and forth between North Dakota and Minnesota during the three days we were there. We stayed at Lindenwood Park, one of several parks in the Fargo Park District, and while the campground packed us in like sardines, the park itself was very nice. It’s right on the river, and the playgrounds are Rayne and Jayden approved. We also rented a Single Surrey (Ray and I pedaling, and girls up front), and toured the park. It was a really fun time!

We also had time to take a little trip to Wahpeton, ND, where we visited one of the smallest zoos I’ve ever been to, Chahinkapa Zoo. The highlights were a petting zoo and some tortoises. I don’t think any of us were all that impressed, but I believe this is because we’ve been to some really outstanding zoos. I think it was nice for a small zoo, and it was a good way to pass a couple of hours.

Tomorrow we leave for Minnesota.