Fort Mandan & the National Lewis and Clark Interpretive Center

Washburn, North Dakota 
 

Fort Mandan: Winter Headquarters of the Lewis and Clark Expedition
 

In the fall of 1804, the Corps of Discovery constructed their winter quarters along the banks of the Missouri River. The fort was named Fort Mandan in honor of the neighboring Mandan people, who, along with the Hidatsa, offered critical support during the long, bitter winter.
 

November 20, 1804

"We this day moved into our huts which are now completed. This place which we call Fort Mandan is situated in a point of low ground, on the north side of the Missouri, covered with tall and heavy cottonwood."
—Captain William Clark

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Fort Mandan was a trapezoidal structure, with two rows of huts forming an angle and enclosing a central courtyard. The reconstructed site you can visit today is located just a few miles from the original location and offers a powerful hands-on experience of expedition life.

Explore Fort Mandan’s Key Features:

• Main Gate: Opened at sunrise and closed at sunset

• Blacksmith Shop: Operated by John Shields, William Bratton, and Alexander Willard—trading metalwork for corn with local tribes

• Interpreter Quarters: Home to Toussaint Charbonneau, his wives Sakakawea and Otter Woman, and York, Clark’s enslaved servant

• Captain’s Quarters: Where Lewis and Clark shared space and planned the next phase of their journey

• Birthplace of Jean Baptiste Charbonneau: Born February 11, 1805, inside the fort

November 20, 1804

"The works consist of two rows of huts or sheds... each row containing four rooms, of 14 feet square and 7 feet high... forming a loft above the rooms, the highest point of which is 18 feet from the ground."
—Captain Clark
 

Despite sub-zero temperatures, the Corps recorded lively moments: hunting buffalo, attending Native dances, and forming friendships that would shape the success of their westward journey.

How Cold Was the Winter of 1804–1805?

• Temperatures plunged to -40°F

• The keelboat froze into the river

• Hunters battled the cold in search of game

• Native neighbors helped teach the men how to survive the brutal weather

🎵 And yet, the journals also record music, dances, shared meals, and diplomacy.

Nearby Native Villages

The Corps wintered among several Mandan and Hidatsa settlements, each with its own chief and culture:

• Mitutanka: First Mandan Village, led by Chief Big White (Sheheke)

• Ruptare: Second Mandan Village, led by Black Cat (Posecopsahe)

• Mahawha: Awaxawi Hidatsa village, led by White Buffalo Robe Unfolded

• Metaharta: Awatixa Hidatsa village, led by Black Moccasin—a longtime friend of Clark

• Menetarra: Main Hidatsa village, ruled by the formidable LeBorgne (One Eye)

These villages played a vital role in the expedition’s survival, offering knowledge, trade, and alliance.

North Dakota Lewis and Clark Interpretive Center

Just minutes from Fort Mandan, this modern museum offers a deeper look into the expedition’s journey—and the world of the Upper Missouri River tribes.

Key Exhibits Include:

• Native American artifacts and cultural displays

• A buffalo robe visitors can try on

• A cradleboard like the one Sakakawea may have used to carry her infant son

• A cottonwood dugout canoe crafted using traditional methods

🛶 Beyond Lewis and Clark, the museum features the Fort Clark Exhibit in the Sheldon Gallery, showcasing:

• The rise of the American Fur Company

• Steamboat trade on the Missouri River

• Cultural exchanges with the Mandan and Arikara tribes

In the Bergquist Gallery, view seasonal exhibits of Karl Bodmer’s watercolors—among the most accurate 19th-century depictions of Native life on the Plains.
 

📍 Plan Your Visit

• Location: Intersection of US Highway 83 & ND Highway 200A, Washburn, ND (38 miles north of Bismarck)

• Attractions: Fort Mandan (reconstructed), Interpretive Center, museum galleries, and walking trails

• Admission: Varies by season
   

Whether you’re tracing the path of the Corps of Discovery or immersing yourself in the culture of the Mandan and Hidatsa people, Fort Mandan and the National Lewis and Clark Interpretive Center offer an unforgettable journey into the heart of the American frontier.