Square Buttes

Square Buttes is a prominent and imposing landmark along this stretch of the Missouri River. The buttes take their name from their corresponding physical characteristics and robust form that is visible on the horizon eight miles to the north. Anthropologist Alfred Bowers learned from his informants that the buttes served as a visible marker or traditional landmark separating Hidatsa territory lying to the north from Mandan territory extending to the south. Square Butte Creek, a western Missouri tributary, was known as Hunting Creek in Lewis and Clark’s time and was named as such on the 1908 expedition route map.

A host of notable travelers ascending or descending the Missouri River have recorded on the “Square Hills” or buttes. Among the earliest was the artist George Catlin who captured them in a painting during his 1832 visit. Two decades later, Lt. G.K. Warren of the US Army Topographical Engineers encountered and mapped them in early July 1856 as part of his expedition to the Nebraska and Dakota territory is that also included a visit to Fort Clark later in the month.

Photo Captions . Upper right: Plan map illustrating the extent of traditional Mandan and Hidatsa territory, based on Bears Arm map (Courtesy of the National Archives) . Lower right: Enlargement of Lt. G.K. Warren’s 1858 Military Map of Nebraska and Dakota showing the “Square Hills” (Courtesy of National Archives) . Bottom left: View of Square Buttes looking to the south . This historical marker was erected by State Historical Society of North Dakota. It is Near Bismarck in Burleigh County North Dakota