Fort Totten State Historic Site facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Fort Totten
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Barracks at Fort Totten
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 Location in North Dakota
Location in the United States
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| Location | South of Fort Totten off ND 57 |
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| Nearest city | Fort Totten, North Dakota |
| Area | less than one acre |
| Built | 1868 |
| NRHP reference No. | 71000629 |
| Added to NRHP | December 09, 1971 |
Fort Totten State Historic Site is a very old and important place in Fort Totten, North Dakota. It started as a military fort. Over the years, it became a school and then a historic site. Today, you can visit it to explore its interesting past.
Contents
A Look Back in Time
Building the Fort
Fort Totten was built on July 17, 1867. It was first set up to keep an eye on the land around the Spirit Lake Tribe. This area was then known as the Devils Lake Reservation. Some members of the Dakota tribe had moved there after 1867.
Why Soldiers Were There
Soldiers were stationed at the fort to help keep the peace. They also guarded important travel routes. These routes were used by people moving across the land. In the 1870s, the fort was a meeting point. An expedition started here to map the border between the United States and Canada.
From Fort to School
The fort stopped being a military base in 1890. After that, it was given to the Bureau of Indian Affairs. From 1890 until 1959, it was used as a boarding school for Native American children.
Becoming a Historic Site
In 1960, Fort Totten became a North Dakota State Historic Site. This means it is protected for its history. It was also added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1971. This list includes important places across the country.
Who Was Fort Totten Named After?
The fort was named after Joseph Gilbert Totten. He was a very important leader in the United States Army Corps of Engineers. Other forts are also named after him. You can find them in Washington, D.C. and Queens, New York.
Visiting Fort Totten Today
Today, Fort Totten is a great place to visit. You can start at the interpretive center. Here, you can learn all about the fort's history.
What You Can See
There are 16 original buildings still standing. You can take a walking tour to see them all. You can also visit the Pioneer Daughter's Museum. It has many interesting items from the past.
Fun Activities
The Fort Totten Little Theatre often puts on shows. You might even be able to stay overnight. The Totten Trail Historic Inn is a bed and breakfast right there. Many school children visit in September. They come for the "Fort Totten Living History Field Day." It's a fun way to learn about history!
- Barnes, Jeff. Forts of the Northern Plains: Guide to Historic Military Posts of the Plains Indian Wars. Mechanicsburg, PA: Stackpole Books, 2008.
Images for kids
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The Fort Totten Little Theater
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Original First Lieutenant's quarters, now the Totten Trail Historic Inn
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Fort Totten Historic Site marker
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Northern Plains Overland Trails 1866-1877 map on display at the Fort Totten Historic Site
