Blogs from Williston, North Dakota, United States, North America
Hibbing, Minn. To Little Missouri National Grasslands, North Dakota
Published: August 6th 2010North America » United States » North Dakota » Williston
July 30th 2010
Entry Twelve: Driving Da’ Tacoma tru’ Da’ Dakota! Friday, July 30th, 2010 I’ve always been a fan of the late-night driving, often opting to leave on trips from Chicago at mid-night. There’s less people on the road, less to look at, and easier to see cops (I’d only seen one the entire trip thus far). Leaving from Hibbing at 5:30 p.m. on Friday, I drove to Grand Rapids, and then picked up Hwy 2 heading west. In West Grand Forks, Minn., I grabbed some junk food (a luxury for long drives, as the thought of pulling out all the cooking materials is waayyy too much work). Veggie burger from Burger King for me, two plain double-cheese hamburgers for Sophie the dog. Entering my 49th state (only Hawaii to go—probably can’t drive there), memorably, I began to ... read more
Fort Buford and the Fort Union Trading Post
Published: June 26th 2009North America » United States » North Dakota » Williston
June 13th 2009
We took a side trip out of Williston to visit a couple of historic sites just a few miles up the Missouri River from town. Near the Montana border, the Yellowstone and Missouri Rivers converge. Fort Buford was established in 1866 to guard and protect the strategic confluence of these rivers, both important transportation and trade routes of the early west. From this fort the army fought the Indians of the northern plains, and it was at Fort Buford, on July, 20, 1881, that the Sioux chief Sitting Bull surrendered, ending the great Sioux wars. Much of the fort has been restored, including the barracks and the commandant’s residence, which houses a museum depicting the life of soldiers in the middle to late nineteenth century. In 1829, a couple of miles upriver from Fort Buford, John ... read more
Lewis and Clark State Park
Published: June 6th 2009North America » United States » North Dakota » Williston
June 6th 2009
The History On May 14, 1804, Meriwether Lewis and William Clark left St Louis, heading up the Missouri River on their 2 ½-year expedition to explore and chart the lands recently acquired through the Louisiana Purchase, and to seek a “Northwest Passage” to the Pacific Ocean. On April 17, 1805, almost one year later, they made camp at Short Creek, in what is now North Dakota, one mile from our campground at Lewis and Clark State Park. Sixteen months later on their return trip, they made camp at Tobacco Garden Bay, just across the Missouri River from the Park. It was here that Lewis was mistaken for an elk and shot right in the butt by Pierre Cruzatte, one of his men, who was blind in one eye and near-sighted in the other. While he survived ... read more
Exploring North Dakota
Published: June 25th 2007North America » United States » North Dakota » Williston
June 25th 2007
Williston Maureen Kelly/Robert Tait Now that Monday, June 25, is here, we are at the Dodge Dealer in Williston, to have the A/C evaluated. Good news they have located the problem, it is the condenser; bad news the parts needs to be ordered and will be here tomorrow after noon. We drove south to Ft. Union Trading Post. It was built in 1828 and soon became headquarters for the trading of beaver furs, and buffalo hides with the various Indian Tribes. The main means of transportation, at the time, was the river, so it was located near the confluence of the Missouri and the Yellowstone Rivers. In its heyday Ft. Union was a busy place. Hunters, carpenters, masons, herders, blacksmiths and tinners were but a few of the employees. Traders were sent to Indian Camps ... read more
