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Western Experience
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| North Dakota Tourism/Jason Lindsey |
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North Dakota is often known as the
place to visit for a "Real American" experience. In fact, it's
why North Dakota is frequently ranked in the Top Five for U.S.
destinations by international guests.
Here you can enjoy the history of great American legends like Lewis
& Clark, Sakakawea, Theodore Roosevelt, Custer and Sitting
Bull. Spend the day in the saddle, or gather 'round the campfire
at a powwow or modern western ranch.
Hat, boots and belt buckle aren't required.
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Medora
An authentic old west town with modern shopping and rootin’ tootin’ entertainment, Medora began as the dream of a French aristocrat and has captured the imagination of big dreamers like Teddy Roosevelt ever since. Click here to plan your adventure in Medora.
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Ranch Vacations
North Dakota offers a variety of ranch vacation to take you back to a simpler way of life. Want to get away from it all and experience life on a real working ranch? If so, try these:
Eagle Ridge Lodge 7 miles southwest of Medora. Phone 701-623-2216.
Amazing view of the Badlands from the hilltop lodge. Packages include overnight stays, two-day getaways and a five-day stay with overnight campout.
Logging Camp Ranch Northwest of Amidon. Phone 701-279-5501. The ranch takes visitors back to life on a working 1880s ranch in the Badlands. Cabins on site.
Knife River Ranch 10 miles south of Golden Valley. Phone 701-983-4290.
Guests stay in cozy cabins and enjoy home-cooked meals in a comfortable lodge. Ranch participation on this working cattle and horse ranch includes horseback riding, roundups, buggy rides, canoeing, swimming and campfires.
Naard Creek Ranch Killdeer, 701-863-6911
Secluded modern cabin in the Badlands sleeps 10. Nature's paradise for birding, hiking, photography, trail riding, family vacations and many other adventure opportunities. Corrals available.
Lone Butte Ranch You'll find solitude or adventure and more here. Hand-crafted log cabins offer spectacular views of Lone Butte and the Badlands. Horse boarding, hot tubs, ranch experience, and hunting available.
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| North Dakota Tourism/Gene Kellogg |
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Rodeos
Eight-seconds never seemed so long as when you're watching a cowboy hang on for dear life. From national professional events to local high school competitions, rodeo isn't just a sport in North Dakota, it's a feel-the-dirt-in-your-teeth way of life.
Here are the dates for 2008!
March, 2008
March 8-9 - PRCA North Dakota Winter Show – Valley City, ND
March 28-29 - PRCA Championship Rodeo – Fargo, ND
June, 2008
June 7-8 - Elgin Saddle Club NDRA Rodeo – Elgin, ND
June 7-8 - Wing NDRA Rodeo – Wing, ND
June 13-15 - North Dakota High School Rodeo Finals – Bowman, ND
June 16-17 - White Earth Valley Saddle Club NDRA Rodeo – White Earth, ND
June 21 - Binford PBR – Binford, ND
June 27-28 - Carrington Roughrider Rodeo – Carrington, ND
June 28-29 -NPRA Rodeo – Strasburg, ND
June 29 - Blaisdell NDRA Rodeo – Blaisdell, ND
June 28-30 - PRCA Rodeo – Dickinson, ND
July, 2008
July 2-4 - PRCA Mandan Rodeo Days – Mandan, ND
July 4-5 - New Town 4th of July Rodeo – New Town, ND
July 8-9 - PRCA Killdeer Mtn. Roundup Rodeo – Killdeer, ND
July 11-12 - James River Rodeo - Jamestown, ND
July 11-12 - McKenzie County Fair & NDRA Rodeo – Watford City, ND
July 11-12 - Bowman County Fair & NDRA Rodeo, Bowman, ND
July 12-13 - Richardton Saddle Club – Richardton, ND
July 22-23 - NPRA Rodeo – Minot, ND
July 28-29 - Fort Totten Days NDRA Rodeo – Fort Totten, ND
August, 2008
August 2 - Hettinger Chamber & Jaycee’s NDRA Rodeo – Hettinger, ND
August 3 - PRCA Home on the Range Rodeo – Sentinel Butte, ND
August 3-4 - Morton County Fair & NDRA Rodeo – New Salem, ND
August 4-5 - Wild Horse Stampede NDRA Rodeo – Fort Yates, ND
August 8-10 - Pembina Red River Roughrider Rodeo – Pembina, ND
August 9-10 - NPRA Rodeo – Ashley, ND
August 16 - Grant County Fair Rodeo – Carson, ND
August 24 - Slope County Fair Rodeo – Amidon, ND
August 29-30 - Killdeer Mtn. Memorial Rodeo – Killdeer, ND
August 31 - Buffalo Gap Cowboy Days – Buffalo Gap, ND
September, 2008
September 12-13 - NDRA Rodeo Finals – Watford City, ND
September 26-28 - Roughrider Rodeo Finals – Devils Lake, ND
October, 2008
October 17-18 - NPRA – Bull-A-Rama Final Rodeo – Jamestown, ND
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Forts
Every good western has a fort, and your western
experience in North Dakota has plenty of them, too. From authentic
buildings to faithful reconstructions, these cavalry and infantry posts
make it easy to envision life on America’s last frontier.
Fort Abercromie Located at the eastern
edge of Abercrombie, this site preserves the military post that served
from 1857 until 1878 as the gateway to the Dakota frontier. A local
museum at the site interprets the history of the fort and the area.
Only one original building remains, but blockhouses and the palisade
wall have been reconstructed. The site is open from May through
September. Modern facilities in the museum. Museum admission fee. For more information, contact Fort Abercrombie State Historic Site, P.O. Box 148, Abercrombie, ND, 58001. Phone 701-553-8513.
Fort Abraham Lincoln
General Custer’s command post. You know how he died, now see how he
lived! A faithful reconstruction of the majority of the post awaits you
in one of North Dakota’s favorite state parks. Located south of Mandan
on the banks of the Missouri River. Get more information at the Fort Lincoln Web site.
Fort Totten, southwest of Devils Lake, is the most complete cavalry-era fort west of the Mississippi River. Fort Totten’s cavalry
square is completely surrounded by original buildings. The fort held a
high level of importance to the U.S. Cavalry, protecting mail routes
and supplying men and material for Custer on his last mission. Visitors
can stay overnight on site at the Totten Trail Inn Bed and Breakfast.
Fort Union Trading Post National Historic Site,
southwest of Williston, now faithfully reconstructed, at one time
hosted the premiere fur trade of the upper Missouri River region. Fort Union was a key trading post at the confluence of the Missouri and Yellowstone rivers.
Fort Buford, located
near present-day Williston, was one of a number of military posts
established to protect overland and river routes used by immigrants
settling the West. While it served an essential role as the sentinel on
the northern plains for twenty-nine years, Fort Buford is probably best remembered as the place where the famous Hunkpapa Sioux leader, Sitting Bull, surrendered in 1881.
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Indian People of North Dakota
They are the Mandan, Hidatsa, Arikara, the Yanktonai, Sisseton,
Wahpeton, Hunkpapa and other Dakotah/Lakotah (commonly known as the
Sioux) Tribes, along with the Pembina Chippewa, Cree and Métis.
Through the individual tribes have distinct and different origins,
histories and languages, Plains Indians are united by core beliefs and
values that emanate from respect for the earth and an understanding of
humankind's relationship with nature.
Visitors are welcome to explore the reservations and discover the beauty of Indian culture.
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| North Dakota Tourism/Clayton Wolt |
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The Powwow (Celebration)
The Algonquin word "pau wau" was the American Indian word some of the
first Europeans associated with dancing. Although pau wau meant
"he dreams" to the Algonquins, the term was eventually accepted by the
Europeans to refer to dancing, later being spelled "powwow".
Powwows were originally held in the springtime to celebrate the
beginning of new life, but are now held throughout the year. The
celebrations often have religious significance, but are also a time for
people to gather, sing, dance, feast, pray, renew old friendships and
make new ones. These celebrations are still an important part of
life for many American Indians.
The Grand Entry opens the parade of dancers and is a time for
contestants to score points by displaying their style and
regalia. Dancers always enter the arbor and dance sun-wise, or
clockwise, around an eagle staff. The types of dance are as
varied as the colors in the costumes.
- Men's Traditional Dancer -
Decorated with bead and quillwork and a circular bustle of eagle
feathers. Portrays the traditional "dancing out" of the story of
a battle or a hunt.
- Men's Grass Dancer - Outfitted with colorful fringe and dancing in movements that resemble grass blowing in the prairie breeze.
- Men's Fancy Dancer - Wears two brilliantly colored feather bustles, displays fancy footwork, speed, acrobatic steps and spinning motions.
- Northern Plains Women's Traditional Dancer
- Moves subtly, bending her knees in small up and down body movements,
while shifting her feet and turning her body slightly. Some
traditions say the movement symbolizes a woman watching for her warrior
to come home.
- Women's Fancy Shawl Dancer
- Wears decorative cloth dress, beaded moccasins with matching
leggings, fancy shawl, and jewelry. Her dance suggests the
movement of a butterfly and is similar to the men's freestyle dance.
- Jingle Dress Dancer -
Outfitted in hundreds of small, jingling metal cones, traditionally
made of snuff can covers. In one account, women wearing jingle
dresses appeared to a holy man in a dream and taught him how to create
the dress, the dance and its music.
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Annual Powwows and Other Events
Annual Pow-Wow schedules:
Mid-Winter Pow-Wow, New Town
New Year's Eve Day
Cannonball Powwow, Cannon Ball
1st weekend in June
White Shield Annual Powwow, White Shield
2nd weekend in June
Fort Union Trading Post Rendezvous, Williston
3rd weekend in June
Twin Buttes Powwow, Twin Buttes
3rd weekend in June
Porcupine Powwow, Porcupine, SD
3rd weekend in June
Sisseton-Wahpeton Oyate Powwow, Agency Village, SD
4th of July weekend
Mandaree Annual Powwow, Mandaree
3rd weekend in July
Fort Totten Days Powwow, Fort Totten
4th weekend in July
Northern Plains Indian Culture Fest,Stanton
4th weekend in July
Standing Rock Powwow, Fort Yates
1st weekend in August
Little Shell Powwow, New Town
2nd Weekend in August
Nue'ta (Mandan) Corn Festival, Mandan
3rd weekend in August
Nux-Bah-Ga Powwow, Parshall
3rd weekend in August
Turtle Mountain Annual Powwow, Belcourt
Labor Day weekend in September
United Tribes International Powwow, Bismarck
2nd weekend in September
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