Knife River Indian Villages - Stanton, North Dakota

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Knife River Indian Villages - Stanton, North Dakota

The Knife River Indian Villages National Historic Site is located a half mile north of Stanton, North Dakota. This site gives visitors a chance to find out what life was like for the Northern Plains Indians living on the Missouri River. The site contains a reconstructed earthlodge that shows visitors what life might have been like for the Hidatsa Indians with many artifacts and interesting displays, including a mortar and pestle, clay pots, clothing, and implements. Each earthlodge often housed up to twenty family members, several horses and even a few dogs.

Visitors can also walk to the nearby Sakakawea village site, which has the remains of other earthlodges that give hints about the vibrant life of this Indian village. The villages at Knife River were considered to be a main trading center for North America. The Visitor’s Center has been built to resemble an earthlodge, and is filled with excellent exhibits and information about the Plains Indians of this area.

The village also includes a traditional garden which grows red beans, sunflowers and blue flint corn. The Knife River Villages National Historic Site is comprised of over 1700 acres, and was established in 1974. The park includes a wide range of natural features, from wetlands to grasslands to hardwood forest. The goal of this national site is to preserve the culture and archeological remains of the Plains Indians.

The park is home to many different animals, and visitors to the area can observe a number of these animals in their natural habitat. Some of the more common sightings include white-tailed deer, porcupines, ground squirrels, and a variety of birds from bald eagles to wild turkeys to cheerful song birds.

The Knife River Indian Villages host several events throughout the year to give visitors a vivid taste of life as a Plains Indian. These include hands-on demonstrations for visitors and an annual Culture Fest which is held in July every year. Children can also participate in the Junior Ranger program which comes with a badge when the child has completed their junior ranger booklet. Children can also check out a Discovery Pack at the Visitor’s Center. It contains a bird identification book, binoculars, a magnifying glass and cards that show various wildflowers. This is a great way for kids to find out more about the flora and fauna of the site.

The Knife River Indian Villages National Historic Site is open from 7:30 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. during the summer, which is from Memorial Day to Labor Day. The winter hours are from 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Visitors during the winter months are advised to call about weather conditions and site accessibility. The site is closed on Thanksgiving, Christmas Day and New Year’s Day.

There are no admission fees. However, large groups are encouraged to make reservations. Camping is not allowed at the site, but there are picnic shelters available for eating that are near the Visitor’s Center. To contact the Visitor’s Center for the Knife River Indian Villages, call (701) 745-3300.