6th Infantry Living History Encampment and annual flag raising

The public is invited to the 6th Infantry Living History Encampment and annual flag raising Saturday, May 23, and Sunday, May 24, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. at Fort Buford State Historic Site near Williston. The free event is open to all ages; children must be accompanied by an adult.

The weekend centers on the site’s annual flag raising, a tradition marking the start of the tourism season and honoring soldiers who served on the northern Plains.

 In recognition of the 150th anniversary of the Battle of the Little Bighorn, the 6th Infantry Regimental Association is moving its traditional July encampment to May to better reflect Fort Buford’s role as a key supply and staging base for the U.S. Army during the 1876 campaign season.

“This program allows us to place Fort Buford in its proper historical context during the Little Bighorn Campaign, one of the most significant military campaigns in Western history,” said 6th Infantry Board Member Brandon Delvo.

Living historians will demonstrate how soldiers prepared for the frontier campaign, including packing supplies, organizing equipment, and issuing rations and gear. Interpretive talks will highlight the logistics that supported military operations across the northern Plains.

“This event brings Fort Buford’s history to life in a real, tangible way,” said Site Supervisor Cheyenne Teal. “Helping visitors see the fort’s role in the larger military story fosters a meaningful connection to the people who lived and served here.”

 Event Schedule (subject to change):

Saturday, May 23

• 9 a.m. – Roll Call and Morning Parade
• 11 a.m. – Marching and Rifle Drill
• Noon – Flag Raising
• 1:30 p.m. – Barracks Inspection
• 2 p.m. – Campaign Supply & Equipment Demonstration
• 2:30 p.m. – Army Laundress Demonstration
• 4 p.m. – Mail Call

Sunday, May 24

• 9 a.m. – Morning Colors and Morning Parade
• Noon – Flag Raising

 This event is part of the ND250 commemoration celebrating our country’s 250th birthday.

 Fort Buford State Historic Site was one of several military posts established to protect overland and river routes used by immigrants settling the West. It operated from 1866 to 1895 and is probably best known as the place where Hunkpapa Lakota leader Sitting Bull relinquished his rifle to the U.S. government in 1881.

Fort Buford State Historic Site and the Missouri-Yellowstone Confluence Interpretive Center are managed by the State Historical Society of North Dakota. The Missouri-Yellowstone Confluence Interpretive Center is open Tuesday-Saturday, 9 a.m.-5 p.m., and closed Sunday-Monday. Fort Buford is closed for the season. Summer hours begin May 1, with both locations open daily 9 a.m.-5 p.m. through Sept. 30. For more information, contact Outreach Coordinator Nicholas Kusnierek, [email protected] or 701.572.9034. All times listed are Central time. Find information about upcoming programs of the State Historical Society at history.nd.gov/events.