North Dakota Lewis and Clark Interpretive Center facts for kids
The North Dakota Lewis and Clark Interpretive Center helps visitors learn about the famous Lewis and Clark Expedition. It is run by the North Dakota Parks and Recreation Department. The center mainly focuses on the winter of 1804–1805. During this time, the explorers stayed at Fort Mandan, a fort they built near a Mandan village.
The center opened in 1997. It is located near Washburn, North Dakota, overlooking the Missouri River. Washburn is about 38 miles north of Bismarck, the capital of North Dakota. The center is also very close to a rebuilt version of Fort Mandan.
Contents
What You Can Discover
The center teaches about more than just Lewis and Clark. It also explores other parts of North Dakota's history.
Native American Cultures
You can learn about the farming ways of the Mandan and Hidatsa Native American nations. These groups lived in the area for a long time.
Fur Trade and Explorers
The center also covers the fur trade at Fort Clark Trading Post State Historic Site. You can discover the journey of Prince Maximilian of Wied-Neuwied. He explored this area in the 1830s.
Art and Exhibits
The center has a museum store and special temporary exhibits. There is also a research library for deeper study. You can see art by Karl Bodmer, a Swiss artist. He traveled to North Dakota in 1833 with Prince Alexander Maximilian of Wied, Germany. The center is also connected to a rest stop for Highways 83 and 200A.
Exploring Fort Mandan
Fort Mandan has been rebuilt so you can see what it was like. This small fort was where the Corps of Discovery spent the winter of 1804 to 1805. Staff at the center offer tours of the fort from April through September. They also have daily programs to help you understand the history.
See also
- Lewis and Clark State Park is on one of the upper parts of Lake Sakakawea. It is 19 miles (31 km) southeast of Williston, North Dakota.
