Pyramid Hill, also, Fort Ransom’s Remarkable Survival. .
Pyramid Hill. Pyramid Hill has long been a topic of local debate sometimes heated. The hill's obvious geometric shape begs the question of just how it was formed.
Geologists believe that Pyramid Hill is a natural feature, the result of glacial action and erosion. Some area residents, however, believe the top one-third of the hill is man-made and possibly among the world's oldest pyramids!
Local resident Snorri Thorfinnson suggested that ancient Native American mound builders, the Tewaukonians, occupied this region between 5,000 and 9,000 years ago. Several burial mounds have indeed been discovered in the Fort Ransom area, and some believe this hill may be part of that group.
While there has been no scientific conclusion to this debate, Native Americans still consider Pyramid Hill a “wakan" or powerful place-a place of emergence into this world.
Fort Ransom’s Remarkable Survival. The Village of Fort Ransom began with J.D. Currie's general store in 1878. It was located on the hill where Scenic Heights now stands. In 1881, Currie's brother-in- law Tyler James ("T.J.") Walker built lumber and flour mills here. Other merchants and settlers followed. The town grew slowly and took its name from a nearby abandoned military fort.
Unlike most prosperous towns on the Dakota frontier, Fort Ransom never enjoyed railroad access (the Northern Pacific Railroad was located many miles north), nor did a grain elevator ever grace the town's skyline, both were usually prerequisites for frontier success.
That Fort Ransom survived at all is a mystery. The community thrived, however, and by 1920, it boasted a population of 200 served by stores, grain and lumber mills, a harness shop, bank, restaurant, doctor's office, post office, two churches, and a pool hall.
Captions: "The mound is not a true pyramid, being 650 feet long and 520 feet wide Iris approximately 100 feet high level on top with the north, west, and south sides of uniform slope While all the other hills along this valley have many rocks and huge boulders, this mound is free of rock except for two flat stones laid on top of the northwest and southwest corners." -Snorri Thorfinnson, Ransom County History Ransom County Historical Society Publishers, 1975. The Viking statue atop Pyramid Hill was erected in 1972 to honor the region's large Norwegian population. The 14-foot-toll statue constructed of steel- reinforced fiberglass, fell victim to high storm winds several years ago, and though repaired, the Viking manifests a distinct backward lean. Pyramid Hill is approximately 100 feet high-in comparison, the Chefren Pyramid in Giza, Egypt is almost 500 feet tall. The Currie family and Fort Ransom's first general store. Emmet Steven Lovelace's imposing general store carried everything "from bridal veils to burial caskets." Fort Ransom's lands were surveyed in 1881 and "squatters" became resident land owners. . This historical marker was erected by Federal Highway Administration, Garrison Diversion Recreation Grant, Valley City Food and Beverage Tax Fund for Ransom Community Club and NDDOT. It is Near Fort Ransom in Ransom County North Dakota
Pyramid Hill
Pyramid Hill has long been a topic of
local debate sometimes heated. The
hill's obvious geometric shape begs the
question of just how it was formed.
Geologists believe that Pyramid Hill is a
natural feature—the result of glacial
action and erosion. Some area residents,
however, believe the top one-third of the
hill is man-made and possibly among the
world's oldest pyramids!
Local resident Snorri Thorfinnson
suggested that ancient Native American
mound builders, the Tewaukonians,
occupied this region between 5,000 and
9,000 years ago. Several burial mounds
have indeed been discovered in the Fort
Ransom area, and some believe this hill
may be part of that group.
While there has been no scientific
conclusion to this debate, Native
Americans still consider Pyramid Hill a
“wakan" or powerful place-a place of
emergence into this world.
Fort Ransom’s Remarkable Survival
The Village of Fort Ransom began with
J.D. Currie's general store in 1878. It was
located on the hill where Scenic Heights
now stands. In 1881, Currie's brother-in-
law
Tyler James ("T.J.") Walker built
lumber and flour mills here. Other
merchants and settlers followed. The
town grew slowly and took its name from
a nearby abandoned military fort.
Unlike most prosperous towns on the
Dakota frontier, Fort Ransom never
enjoyed railroad access (the Northern
Pacific Railroad was located many miles north), nor did a grain elevator ever grace the town's skyline—both were usually
prerequisites for frontier success.
That Fort Ransom survived at all is a
mystery. The community thrived,
however, and by 1920, it boasted a
population of 200 served by stores, grain
and lumber mills, a harness shop, bank,
restaurant, doctor's office, post office, two
churches, and a pool hall.
Captions: "The mound is not a true pyramid, being 650 feet
long and 520 feet wide Iris
approximately 100 feet
high level on top with the
north, west, and south
sides of uniform slope
While all the other hills
along this valley have
many rocks and huge
boulders, this mound is
free of rock except for two
flat stones laid on top of
the northwest and
southwest corners." -Snorri Thorfinnson,
Ransom County History
Ransom County Historical
Society Publishers, 1975.
The Viking statue atop
Pyramid Hill was
erected in 1972 to
honor the region's large
Norwegian population.
The 14-foot-toll statue
constructed of steel-
reinforced
fiberglass,
fell victim to high storm
winds several years
ago, and though
repaired, the Viking
manifests a distinct
backward lean. Pyramid Hill is approximately 100 feet high-in comparison, the Chefren Pyramid in Giza, Egypt is almost 500 feet tall. The Currie family and Fort Ransom's first general store. Emmet Steven Lovelace's imposing general store carried everything "from bridal veils to burial caskets." Fort Ransom's lands were surveyed
in 1881 and "squatters" became
resident land owners.
Erected by Federal Highway Administration, Garrison Diversion Recreation Grant, Valley City Food & Beverage Tax Fund for Ransom Community Club and NDDOT.
Location. 46° 31.377′ N, 97° 55.41′ W. Marker is near Fort Ransom, North Dakota, in Ransom County. Marker is at the intersection of Walt Hjelle Parkway and Valley Road, on the right when traveling north on Walt Hjelle Parkway. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Fort Ransom ND 58033, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Credits. This page was last revised on July 14, 2021. It was originally submitted on July 12, 2021, by Connor Olson of Kewaskum, Wisconsin. This page has been viewed 958 times since then and 168 times this year. Last updated on July 12, 2021, by Connor Olson of Kewaskum, Wisconsin. Photos:1, 2. submitted on July 12, 2021, by Connor Olson of Kewaskum, Wisconsin. • Mark Hilton was the editor who published this page.
