Battlefield Museum - Killdeer, North Dakota

Battlefield Museum - Killdeer, North Dakota

If you’re looking for the best North Dakota has to offer, a great place to start is the city of Killdeer, offering a view you have to see to believe, plenty of flora and fauna, water adventure, and many other highlights. Let’s not forget it’s also the home to mountains that are rich with history.

The Native Americans referred to the Killdeer Mountains as “Tahkahokuty” Mountain, which means “the place where we kill deer.” The mountains majestically rise above the rest of the city, and are thick with Oak and Birch trees. Along with the deer, the mountains also include wild turkeys and other game birds.

General Alfred Sully fought the Sioux at this site in 1864, looking for revenge for the Minnesota Massacre. If you’d like to learn more of the history, you can visit the Battlefield Museum, open from 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM Monday through Saturday, and after 3:00 PM on Sunday.

Walking up the mountain approximately a half mile, you’ll also see the Medicine Hole. A Native American legend has this being the opening that the Plains’ first buffalo emerged from. It was also used by the Sioux to escape from the battle with General Sully‘s troops. In remembrance of this historical site, holes of a different kind are seen at the Medicine Hole Golf Course nearby.

If you are looking to stay awhile, and want to see even more flora and fauna, a visit to the Little Missouri State Park might be in order, where you’ll see coyotes, bobcats, and golden eagles. Horse rentals are available for roaming the trails, with or without guide service. Corrals and hay are also sold for those wishing to bring their own horses. Camping accommodations are available for various levels of comfort to suit the visitor. There are a number of picnic shelters on the site as well. A $5 daily vehicle charge will be applied to every stay.

During your stay, you may wish to visit a few museums. Seventeen miles south of Killdeer is a 1929 Restored Country School, where you and your children can see how the children in North Dakota learned more than seventy-five years ago. Dorothy Galyen restored the Iota School No. 1 and had it relocated to her property. Located inside the Dunn Center is the County Museum, run by the Dunn County Historical Society.

When just looking for a beautiful scenic drive, there are plenty to choose from in the Killdeer area. One of the best, and most unique for this area, is driving the “loop.” Starting off west of Killdeer on Highway 200 and going north, you will travel through part of the Wildlife Management Area, then turn east and enjoy the North and South Mountains until you reach Highway 22. You can also travel along the twenty-nine miles of the North Dakota Scenic Byway which travels from north of Killdeer to the McKenzie County Line.

For water adventures, there’s the Little Missouri Scenic River, the only designated scenic river in North Dakota. Here you can spot coyotes and golden eagles, and can also take in some canoeing. Traveling to Lake Sakakawea will find you the best walleye fishing in the area. Boating, sailing, water skiing, and windsurfing are available here as well.

Battlefield Museum
Killdeer, ND 58640
Phone: (701) 328-2666 or (701) 764-6092

Medicine Hole Golf Course
P.O. Box 401
Killdeer, ND 58640
Phone: (764) 4653 (Golf)

Little Missouri State Park
Contact Cross Ranch State Park
1403 River Road
Center, ND 58530
Phone: (701) 794-3731 or (701) 260-1753

1929 Restored Country School
North of Gladstone, ND 58630
Phone: 701-225-3708