Land of Strange Disappearances
More recent Native American tribes of this area include the Mandan, Arikara and Hidatsa. These Plains Village people lived in earthlodges in permanent villages. Many of these villages were located along the Missouri River. They raised crops such as com, beans, squash, sunflowers and tobacco. A trade network was in operation extending as far as the Gulf of Mexico and the Pacific Ocean. They also hunted big game, especially the buffalo.
With the arrival of European people in the 1700's the culture of the Native Americans changed. The intro- duction of European diseases, the destruction of the buffalo herds, and the steady encroachment of settlers made it impossible for these Native American peoples to retain their traditional way of life.
A visit to the Knife River Village Historic Site near Stanton, ND (#21 on the map) provides a more detailed look at the Plains Village culture.
Lewis and Clark
Meriwether Lewis and Capt. William
Clark set out to explore the newly
this page online
The party consisted of 44 unmarried young men who were in Capt. Lewis' words "capable of bearing bodily fatigue in a pretty considerable degree."
In late October of 1804 the expedition reached the Knife River Indian villages and built Ft. Mandan as their winter camp. It was there that Lewis and Clark hired Toussaint Charbonneau and his young Shoshoni wife, Sakakawea.
Fort Stevenson
Fort Stevenson was a two company military post named for Union General Thomas G.
Stevenson. Construction of the fort began in 1867. It was built at the mouth of Garrison Creek.
The fort served four main purposes: to protect the Three Tribes at Fort Berthold; to serve as a
link in the chain of military forts from South Dakota to Montana; as a point in the proposed emigrant route from Minnesota to the gold mines; and as a base of supplies for Fort
Totten.
Fort Stevenson was built for a maximum of 238 men. No major attacks were ever
made on Fort Stevenson and by 1894
The site of the fort has been inundated by the waters of Lake Sakakawea.
Totten Trail
The Totten Trail was a wagon trail connecting Fort Stevenson, located at the
mouth of Garrison Creek, and Fort Totten, a military post on Devils Lake. Both forts
were built in 1867 and the 125 mile trail between them was in constant use until
1872
The trail served as a mail and a suppiy route. A portion of the trail near the Dog Den
Range became known as the land of strange disappearances” when severalmail carying derties
were attaoked and killed.
The trail's importance diminished after 1872 as the railroads provided cheernd faster routes for
mail.
Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Exploration • Forts and Castles • Indigenous Peoples and Communities • Railroads & Streetcars. A significant historical year for this entry is 1804.
Location. 47° 38.758′ N, 101° 17.779′ W. Marker is near Garrison, North Dakota, in McLean County. It is on North Dakota Route 37 near U.S. 83, on the left when traveling west. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Garrison ND 58540, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Regionally, this marker is in North Dakota’s Mandan, Hidatsa, and Arikara Nation, in the Standing Rock Sioux Tribe, in the Drift Prairie, and on the 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 Ruperts Land and also the Louisiana Purchase.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 8 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies: Custer Coal Mine (here, next to this marker); Wildlife Area Evolves From Coal Mine (here, next to this marker); Fort Stevenson State Park (approx. 7.1 miles away); Garrison Dam (approx. 7.1 miles away); Lake Sakakawea (approx. 7.1 miles away); A Blank Canvas (approx. 7.1 miles away); De Trobriand (approx. 7.1 miles away); Buffalo (approx. 7.1 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Garrison.
Credits. This page was last revised on January 13, 2021. It was originally submitted on January 10, 2021, by Connor Olson of Menomonee Falls, Wisconsin. This page has been viewed 831 times since then and 38 times this year. Photo 1. submitted on January 10, 2021, by Connor Olson of Menomonee Falls, Wisconsin. • Mark Hilton was the editor who published this page.
Editor’s want-list for this marker. A wide shot of the marker and its surroundings. • Can you help?
