Prairie at Lake Sakakawea

At Lewis & Clark State Park on Lake Sakakawea, the shoreline stretches for several miles. From there, scenic views open up of tall buttes and gently rolling hills. The park also features a large, undisturbed mixed-grass prairie and unique geological formations. Water, grassland, and striking landforms give the park several distinct landscape features. The contrast between the tall buttes and softer contours of the hills makes the terrain as defining as the lakeshore. Visitors who enjoy taking in landscapes for their landforms and open spaces will find a range of details here within a single state park.

Forts and History

Between 1828 and 1867, Fort Union was the most important fur-trading post on the Upper Missouri River. This period anchors its significance in a clearly defined era of the fur trade. At Fort Union Trading Post National Historic Site, the visitor center and museum are housed in the Bourgeois House. The Rendezvous is held at the site annually on the third full weekend in June. If you plan to include the event in your trip, check the specific event dates in advance.

Fort Buford was built in 1866 near the confluence of the Missouri and Yellowstone rivers and became an important supply depot for military field operations. Its military function differed from Fort Union’s role in the fur trade. Fort Buford preserves a stone powder magazine, the site of the cemetery, and a large officers’ quarters that now houses a museum. These places and buildings offer distinct points of reference for its history: the powder magazine, the cemetery site, and the quarters with their museum use.

The Missouri-Yellowstone Confluence Interpretive Center presents the geology, wildlife, and history of the confluence. This offers a way to distinguish the military supply history of a fort from the geology and wildlife of the confluence. The two perspectives place different emphasis on history and landscape.

Museums and Remembrance

The Buffalo Trails Museum in Williams County consists of eight buildings on Main Street in Epping. With eight buildings, the museum is more than a single structure; at the same time, its location on Main Street places it specifically in Epping. The Norseman Museum showcases history, images, and artifacts from the homes and farms of early settlers, as well as from businesses, churches, schools, the town, the military, and the oil field. Its themes thus range from private lives to social, military, and economic spheres. This breadth can be viewed from different perspectives: homes and farms alongside institutions, town life, and fields of work.

The Cut Bluff Overlook commemorates Lewis and Clark’s encampment near Cut Bluff on the south shore of the Missouri River. The historic site is about two miles (3 km) east of Williston, on the south side of Highway 1804. The approximate distance, direction, and side of the highway provide a concise sense of its location. The commemoration of Lewis and Clark serves as a distinct historical point of reference alongside Fort Union’s fur trade and Fort Buford’s military role.

A Look at Winegrowing

In Williston, 202 Brix Vineyard & Winery grows Sabrivois, La Crescent, Marquette, and Frontenac, among other varieties. These named varieties give winegrowing a specific place alongside the stories of forts and museums. The selection of grape varieties grown may change over time.

Discover More Destinations

Discover more destinations: Williston, Tioga, Lamoure County, Burleigh County, Bottineau County, Ramsey, Mercer, Mchenry County.

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