Bismarck Facts
Fact 1: Perhaps one of the regions most ubiqitous names, Sakakawea appears on the signs for numerous parks, lake, streams, streets, and businesses in honor of the Shoshone woman who accompanied Lewis and Clark and the Corps of Discovery on their journey to find the legendary Northwest Passage and the Pacific Ocean. In recent years, Sakakawea was honored by the U.S. government when the mint released the Sakakawea Silver Dollar.
Fact 2: Founded around 1873, when the tracks of the Northern Pacific railroad reached the eastern banks of the Missouri River, Bismarck was named in honor of Von Bismarck, the so-called "Iron Chancellor of Germany." In those days, bridge engineers didn't have the heavy machinery they have now, so constructing a bridge over a body of water the size of the Missouri was a considerable undertaking that wasn't completed until 1883. That year, the city of Mandan, named for the Mantani Indians, was born on the river's west bank, just across from Bismarck.
Fact 3: Famous visitors to the Bismarck area are not a recent development. In fact, history shows that the first "celebrities" to visit the area were of the frontier variety. Three of them, in particular, Prince Maximilian, Karl Bodmer, and George Catlin spent considerable time in the region, especially at nearby Fort Clark. Maximilian of Wied was of German royal descent and had an affinity for exploring and studying the tribes of the Northern Plains. The Swiss-born and Paris-trained Bodmer was a noted artist who traveled with Prince Maximilian and captured the vastness of the Western landscape on canvass. Catlin, a native Pennsylvanian, was a self-taught artist whose subject matter focused on Native Americans.
Fact 4: General George Armstrong Custer and his wife, Elizabeth "Libbie" Bacon Custer, lived at Fort Lincoln during the 1870s, when the Civil War hero was stationed there. Aside from being the couple's last home together, the fort is also legendary for serving as the launching pad for General Custer's infamous campaign against the Lakota and Cheyenne. On 25 June 1876, Custer led 210 men in an attack on a village near the Little Bighorn only to find thousands of Lakota, Cheyenne, and Arapaho warriors waiting to decimate them. Ironically, this major tactical blunder is often depicted as one of the most heroic scenes in American military history – "Custer's Last Stand."
Fact 5: If you're late, the easy thing to do is just blame it on the zone you're in. Indeed, Bismarck and Mandan sit close to the line that divides the Central and Mountain time zones, so make sure you pay attention when you're traveling around the countryside or visiting places like Fort Lincoln, On-a-Slant Indian Village, or Prairie Knights Casino – you may just miss your dinner reservations back in town.
Fact 6: As the numerous markers and signs in and around town no doubt attest, Meriwether Lewis and William Clark and their Corps of Discovery visited this region of North Dakota during their expedition. At the request of President Thomas Jefferson, the group set out for the Pacific Ocean in 1803 and would not return until 1806. They traveled the Missouri River via boat and actually lived near modern Bismarck during the winter of 1804-05 at Fort Mandan, which they founded and named in honor of the indigenous tribe that befriended them while they were there.
Fact 7: A haven for avid outdoorsmen and nature lovers in general, the Bismarck area features a wide range of opportunities for those wanting to experience life on the wild side. Primarily, the Missouri River and its tributaries offer excellent fishing – 19 different species of fish, to be exact. In addition, the land flanking the river system is home to countless species of wild game, from grouse and partridge to white-tailed deer and rabbit. Those who'd prefer to hunt with a lens will find that the region's rich landscape is prime for birdwatchers, who'll likely spot bald eagles, white pelicans, snowy owls, and the like on any given outing.
Fact 8: Construction on nearby Garrison Dam began in 1947. Six years and $294 million dollars later, it was completed. The fifth largest earthen dam in the world, Garrison extends some 2.5 miles, stands over 200 feet high, and contains more than 1.5 million cubic yards of concrete and 66.5 million cubic yards of earth fill. The dam was constructed, primarily, to help regulate the water levels of the Missouri and provide electricity for folks living in the region via a hydroelectric plant. Of course, most residents will be quick to tell you that the best by-product of Garrison Dam's construction is Lake Sakakawea, one of the largest manmade lakes in the U.S. and a popular recreation spot.
Fact 9: If you'd like to understand a little more about the area's geological history, look no further than the Hogback Ridge, part of which runs just south of Mandan. Nearly invisible upon first glance, this slight ridge extends as far south as Colorado and suggests glacial movements that occurred thousands of years ago. Segments of the Hogback have even yielded numerous dinosaur fossils over the years, prompting the off-hand nickname, "Dinosaur Ridge."
Fact 10: How's that go again? Most authorities agree that "Sakakawea" is the most correct way to spell the name of the legendary Shoshone who assisted the Lewis and Clark expedition. However, around the country, variant spellings do exist, including "Sacagawea," a name that in the Shoshone tongue would translate as "boat launcher."
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