Near Sanger in Oliver County, North Dakota — The American Midwest (Upper Plains)

The Story of Painted Woods

Photographed by Barry Swackhamer, July 22, 2025

1. The Story of Painted Woods Marker

Inscription. It is said that this territory was claimed by the Mandan Indians and by their enemy the Yanktonai Sioux. To meet here was to fight here. A day came when all grew tired of the fighting and the Mandan hosted a peace council during the autumn harvest. At this council, a young daughter of a Mandan chief fell in love with a Sioux warrior. Her father, outraged, had his soldiers kill the young man. Consequently, Sioux warriors killed the maiden. The bodies of the lovers were placed in a tree, as was the burial custom.

Warfare erupted anew. The Sioux painted the surrounding trees with their exploits against the Mandan. The Mandan, in turn, painted their deeds denouncing the Sioux. Thus the, PAINTED WOODS.

A possible time for this event falls between 1715, when the Mandan and Sioux counseled, and 1738, when they were enemies of one another.

Erected by North Dakota Game and Fish Department, Sakakawea Chapter, Lewis and Clark Trail Heritage Foundation.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Indigenous Peoples and Communities.

Location. 47° 12.478′ N, 100° 58.108′ W.

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Marker is near Sanger, North Dakota, in Oliver County. It is on 14m Street SW near State Highway 1804. The marker is at the end of the street. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Center ND 58530, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in North Dakota’s Standing Rock Sioux Tribe,

on the Missouri Plateau,

and in Greater Bismarck Area.

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 7 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies: Painted Woods (here, next to this marker); The Missouri: An Early Highway (approx. 1.3 miles away); The Missouri : A Landscape Altered (approx. 1.3 miles away); The Missouri: Origin and History (approx. 1.4 miles away); Cross Ranch (approx. 2 miles away); "A Buitifull Countrey" (approx. 2 miles away); Taylor Cabin (approx. 6.1 miles away); Soo Line Railroad & Depot

Photographed by Barry Swackhamer, July 22, 2025

2. The Story of Painted Woods Marker

(approx. 6.1 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Sanger.

More about this marker. It is hard to call 14m Street SW a street. Do not take if there have been recent rains. There is good bird watching though.

Credits. This page was last revised on September 14, 2025. It was originally submitted on September 14, 2025, by Barry Swackhamer of Brentwood, California. This page has been viewed 70 times since then and 22 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on September 14, 2025, by Barry Swackhamer of Brentwood, California.