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We went to visit Fort Union and Fort Buford on the afternoon of Friday July 7, 2006. This is one of the most historically interesting places I've ever visited. And to think we only went there for something to do. It's worth going to North Dakota just to go to this place.
So what's so fascinating about this. Well, the forts are at the junction of the Missouri and Yellowstone Rivers. Lewis and Clark were here of course on both the outward and return journeys in 1805 and 1806. A few years later in 1820, the American Fur Company built a fort and traded with both the Indians and white trappers. Around 1855 or so, the business became uneconomic and the army established a fort nearby. From there, Sherman, Custer and the rest fought the Native Indians from Fort Buford. Indeed, Sitting Bull surrendered his winchester there in 1881 and this represents the end of the true Indian resistance to the white man.
This place represents the west in the 19th centuary. From Lewis and Clark's arrival, to the Indian Massacre at Wounded Knee. 85 years is all it took to kill all the buffalo and put the Indians into reservations. We've all seen "Dances with Wolves" - we this is where it happened.
Lightbox click here - 1.6mb download
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