Whitestone Hill State Historic Site

Whitestone Hill State Historic Site, located 23 miles southeast of Kulm, Dickey County, is a place of remembrance for the people—100 to 300—who were massacred here in 1863. Whitestone is a traditional seasonal home and continues to be a sacred place for the Yanktonai and Dakota. On Sept. 3, 1863, U.S. soldiers under the command of Gen. Alfred Sully approached the camp in three separate units. Two of them, possibly acting without orders, began firing on the fleeing men, women, and children.

Today, descendants from all backgrounds come here to learn and reflect. A trip to Whitestone can create strong and conflicting emotions. Some have described feeling the weight of human suffering, nostalgia for the many happier gatherings that happened here, or a spiritual significance.

There are now 14 interpretive panels that give a detailed overview of what happened at Whitestone in 1863 and its reverberations. A marker also recognizes two early settlers, Tom and Mary Shimmin. A fieldstone shelter beside the trail provides a resting point overlooking part of the battlefield and a freshwater lake. 

MUST SEE & DO

• Visit monuments that memorialize both American Indians and soldiers.
• Climb the hill for a stunning view of the lake and rolling hills of the Coteau du Missouri landscape.
• Take a close look at native plants including wild prairie roses, narrow leaf purple coneflowers, blanket flowers, purple prairie clover, yarrows, and meadow anemones.
• Look for migratory birds of the Central Flyway around Bigstone Lake.

Nearby is a picnic area with a shelter, table, pit toilets, and a parking lot. The site is open year round, but there is no snow removal service.

**The State Historical Society of North Dakota has received top honors in the 2024 Interpretive Media Awards from the National Association for Interpretation (NAI), securing first place in the “Difficult Topics” category. This recognition highlights the Society’s successful reexamination of the Whitestone Hill State Historic Site. Previously regarded only as a battlefield, Whitestone Hill is now presented as a place of remembrance for the victims of a massacre in 1863, carried out by Gen. Alfred Sully’s forces. The project involved replacing a single interpretive sign with 15 new panels, providing a more comprehensive understanding of the tragic event. These panels were informed by a variety of sources, including primary documents, oral histories, and contemporary research. Learn more here.