Local area

Fort Buford was the site of the surrender of the famous Sioux Chief Sitting Bull, five years after the Battle of the Little Bighorn. The guardhouse at the fort held Sitting Bull as well as the legendary Chief Joseph following his defeat in the famed Nez Perce War. The stone powder magazine and the field officer's quarters, which now house a museum, are original buildings. They date from the 1870s and are open to the public. Echoes of the army can still be heard at Fort Buford.

The center tells the story of the confluence of the mighty Missouri and Yellowstone Rivers, and offers the same magnificent view the Lewis and Clark Expedition members enjoyed when they visited the area in 1804 and 1806. Exhibits explore the geography and geology of the area, its prehistoric life, and the impact of people arriving by trail, tracks, rivers and roads.

Theodore Roosevelt National Park lies in western North Dakota, where the Great Plains meet the rugged Badlands. A habitat for bison, elk and prairie dogs, the sprawling park has 3 sections linked by the Little Missouri River. The park is known for the South Unit’s colorful Painted Canyon and the Maltese Cross Cabin, where President Roosevelt once lived. The Scenic Loop Drive winds past several overlooks and trails.