This Hike Takes You To A Place North Dakota’s First Residents Left Behind
Long before the railroad came through North Dakota with all the settlers who made the state what it is today, there were huge groups of people living throughout the area for hundreds of years. Today, that history has luckily been preserved in a few key places where the remnants of those early residents were left behind. If you want to experience some of it yourself and get a glimpse into the earliest ways of life in the Peace Garden State, you’ll want to hit this trail:
The Knife River Indian Villages National Historic Site is a great place to view the remnants of some of North Dakota's earliest residents.
These lodges were created with wood interior structures and then covered in dirt and sod that allowed for the native prairie grasses to grow on top, creating these unusual yet brilliant homes.
At the historic site, you can even go inside of the earth lodges and see the many artifacts brought together to show what life was like those hundreds of years ago when these large villages were full of people.
But what this trail will also bring you to is the original site of the earth lodge villages - once inhabited hundreds of years ago by many, many Native Americans.
There are three villages in the area, the Big Hidatsa Village, Awatixa, and Awatixa Xi'e, or Lower Hidatsa village. By following the trail, you can view parts of them. Awatixa is also the place where the famous Sakakawea herself, that aided and went with Lewis and Clark during their expeditions, resided.
Though it may be hard to see at first, you will notice many round depressions in the ground, creating unusual rolling hills at the end of the trail. These circular formations were the foundations of the many, many earth lodges that once stood here, and are some of the final remnants of the original village.
The Knife River Indian Village Historic Site is located at 564 Country Road 37, Stanton, ND 58571. For more information, click here.
North Dakota has another great historic site with some of the earth lodges that used to dot the prairie all over the place, including the popular On-A-Slant Village. Why not check that one out, too?
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Crazy old cat lady in training, includes enthusiasm for knitted sweaters. Farm livin', film lovin', pasta cookin', graphic artist and writer from the good ol' midwest!
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