Fort Abraham Lincoln State Park
Time Needed: full-day, half-day
Experience Type: cultural heritage, historic landmark
Fort Abraham Lincoln State Park showcases North Dakota’s rich history, uniting Native American and military heritage along the Missouri River. As the state’s oldest park, it features reconstructed Mandan earthlodges, Custer’s 1870s home, hilltop blockhouses, and scenic hiking trails.
MUST-DO CHECKLIST
- Tour the Custer House – Step inside the reconstructed home of General George and Libbie Custer for guided tours depicting 1870s frontier life before Custer’s final campaign.
- Explore the On-A-Slant Indian Village – Walk among reconstructed Mandan earthlodges to learn about centuries-old farming, trade, and traditions of the people who once lived here.
- Climb the Blockhouses for a View – Ascend the two-story wooden towers for panoramic vistas of the cavalry post, Mandan village, and the Missouri River valley.
- Hike the Scenic Trails – Follow nearly 20 miles of multi-use trails like the Young Hawk Interpretive Trail and Mato-tope Trail for river overlooks and prairie wildlife.
- See the Civilian Conservation Corps Statue – Just outside the Visitor Center, this statue honors the young men who built much of the park’s infrastructure in the 1930s.
Recommended Reading: Encounters at the Heart of the World uncovers the rich history of the Mandan people, drawing on archaeology and science to explain their trade networks, agricultural expertise, and the forces that reshaped their world on the Missouri River.
Photo Credit: Erica Hager/Flickr