Bismarck in Burleigh County, North Dakota — The American Midwest (Upper Plains)

Hancock History

Camp Hancock State Historic Site

Photographed by Connor Olson, August 9, 2020

1. Hancock History Marker

Inscription. Camp Hancock was the location of an infantry post from 1872 to 1877 and a quartermaster depot and signal office until 1894. The post was originally named Camp Greeley in honor of Horace Greeley, an editor of the New York Times and candidate for the presidency. In 1873, the post was renamed Camp Hancock after the commander of the Department of Dakota, George Winfield Hancock. The primary purpose of the post was to protect supplies, equipment, and engineer crews of the Northern Pacific Railroad. By 1883 the post was also serving as a storage station for the US Army quartermaster's supplies. A Signal Corps "reporting station" was established at Camp Hancock in 1874. The primary mission of the Signal Corps was to transmit military messages; they also maintain the records of the nations weather patterns.

After the army post was decommissioned in 1894, the buildings were used as offices and as the director's residence for the U.S. Weather Bureau station until 1940. The Weather Bureau compiles statistics regarding precipitation, wind speed and direction, and barometric pressure. This climatological data is used in forecasting

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weather patterns that affect decisions about everything from crop choices to airplane travel routes to water levels in reservoirs.

The U.S. Soil Conservation Service occupied the site until May 1949.

The town of Edwinton was established on the banks of the Missouri River in early 1872. The town was named after Edwin L. Johnson, chief engineer of the Northern Pacific Railroad. On July 17, 1873, Edmonton was renamed Bismarck in an attempt to attract German investors to the region to spur railroad construction by the Northern Pacific Railroad. The newly renamed Bismarck had a population of 800 and more than 100 buildings, a quarter of which were saloons and gambling houses.

Photo captions:
Photo taken between 1872 and 1875, with the barracks and mess hall in the foreground. The one-story structure to the left is the officers' quarters, the present museum. The log construction of the barracks and mess hall can be clearly seen.
The Weather Station grounds in 1904. The fieldstone wall has been completed, and a sidewalk has been laid down along Main Street.
Bismarck, Main Street looking west, 1973.

Erected by State Historical

Former Ofiicers' Quarters & Weather Bureau offices, current museum image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Connor Olson, August 9, 2020

2. Former Ofiicers' Quarters & Weather Bureau offices, current museum

Society of North Dakota.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Railroads & Streetcars • Settlements & Settlers. A significant historical year for this entry is 1872.

Location. 46° 48.316′ N, 100° 47.417′ W. Marker is in Bismarck, North Dakota, in Burleigh County. It can be reached from the intersection of East Main Avenue and North 1st Street, on the right when traveling east. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 101 East Main Avenue, Bismarck ND 58501, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is on North Dakota’s Missouri Plateau.

It is also in the American Lewis & Clark Corridor,

on the prairies,

and on the Northern Plains.

Globally, it is in North America,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once Rupert’s Land

and also the Louisiana Purchase.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: Locomotive #2164 (a few steps from this marker); Camp Hancock Site Map (a few steps from this marker); Episcopalian Services In The Area

Camp Hancock Site image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Connor Olson, August 9, 2020

3. Camp Hancock Site

(a few steps from this marker); Church of the Bread of Life (within shouting distance of this marker); Federal Building (approx. 0.2 miles away); First News of Custer’s Death (approx. ¼ mile away); Burleigh County Veterans Memorial (approx. 0.3 miles away); Site of First Court House of Burleigh County, Dakota Territory (approx. 0.3 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Bismarck.

Also see . . . Camp Hancock State Historic Site - History. (Submitted on August 19, 2020.)

Credits. This page was last revised on August 19, 2020. It was originally submitted on August 18, 2020, by Connor Olson of Menomonee Falls, Wisconsin. This page has been viewed 416 times since then and 22 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on August 18, 2020, by Connor Olson of Menomonee Falls, Wisconsin. • Mark Hilton was the editor who published this page.