Community Overview

History Unveiled: A Journey Through Time

Land of the Mandan People

Long before European explorers arrived, the region around present-day Bismarck was home to the Mandan, Hidatsa, Arikara, Sioux, and Chippewa peoples. The Mandan established permanent villages along the Missouri River, building earth lodges and developing sophisticated agricultural practices. The Hidatsa name for the area translates to "Place of the Tall Willows," reflecting the riverbank landscape that defined this stretch of the Missouri. These indigenous communities had traded along the river corridors for centuries before outside contact.

French-Canadian explorer La Vérendrye became one of the first Europeans to reach the area around 1738, leading fur traders into the region decades before American expansion. The Missouri River served as a natural highway for exploration and commerce, drawing trappers and traders who recognized its strategic importance.

• Mandan, Hidatsa, Arikara, Sioux, and Chippewa peoples inhabited the region for thousands of years
• Hidatsa name: "mirahacii arumaaguash" (Place of the Tall Willows)
• La Vérendrye arrived around 1738 as one of the first European explorers
• Missouri River served as the primary corridor for trade and travel

Lewis and Clark at the Missouri Crossing

In 1804, the Lewis and Clark Expedition paddled up the Missouri River through the future site of Bismarck, crossing the river at a location that would later be known as "Missouri Crossing." The Corps of Discovery spent the winter of 1804-1805 at Fort Mandan, approximately 40 miles north of present-day Bismarck, where they encountered the Mandan and Hidatsa peoples. It was here that Sacagawea joined the expedition as an interpreter and guide.

On their return journey in August 1806, the expedition camped on the west bank of the river across from what would become Bismarck. Accompanying them was Mandan Chief Sheheke and his family, who traveled east to meet President Thomas Jefferson in Washington. This encounter between the Corps of Discovery and the indigenous peoples of the region represents a pivotal moment in the area's recorded history.

• Lewis and Clark crossed the Missouri at the future site of Bismarck in 1804
• Corps of Discovery wintered at Fort Mandan (1804-1805), 40 miles north
• Sacagawea joined the expedition during the Fort Mandan winter
• Mandan Chief Sheheke traveled to Washington to meet President Jefferson

The Railroad Arrives

The modern city emerged in 1872 when the Northern Pacific Railroad reached the Missouri River and established its western terminus at "The Crossing on the Missouri." Originally called Edwinton after Edwin Ferry Johnson, the railroad's chief engineer, the settlement was renamed Bismarck in 1873 to honor German Chancellor Otto von Bismarck. Railroad officials hoped the name would attract German settlers and investment. Bismarck remains the only U.S. state capital named for a foreign statesman.

Camp Greeley (later Camp Hancock) was established to protect railroad construction crews, and Fort McKeen (renamed Fort Abraham Lincoln) provided military presence for settlers. The railroad's sudden terminus in Bismarck, blocked by the challenge of bridging the Missouri, ironically fueled the city's initial growth as travelers and freight accumulated on the eastern bank.

• 1872: Northern Pacific Railroad establishes terminus at Missouri Crossing
• 1873: Town renamed Bismarck to attract German settlers and investment
• Camp Hancock and Fort Abraham Lincoln provided military protection
• Only U.S. state capital named for a foreign statesman

Gold Rush and the Wild West

The discovery of gold in the Black Hills of South Dakota in 1874 transformed Bismarck into a freight-shipping center. Thousands of prospectors arrived by railroad, then set out on the 300-mile "Custer Route" to the goldfields. The influx of troops, railroad workers, and gold seekers created a lawless atmosphere that earned Bismarck the reputation as the "Wickedest City in the West." Fourth Street became known as "Murderer's Gulch" and "Bloody Fourth," with saloons, gambling houses, and violence defining the early settlement.

In 1876, Bismarck Tribune reporter Mark Kellogg became the first to report on the Battle of Little Big Horn. Kellogg himself was killed during the engagement, and the news put Bismarck on the national map. The city was incorporated in 1875, electing John McLean as its first mayor, and began the slow transition from frontier outpost to established community.

• 1874: Black Hills gold discovery transforms Bismarck into supply hub
• "Custer Route" connected Bismarck to Black Hills goldfields (300 miles)
• Early reputation as "Wickedest City in the West"
• 1875: Bismarck incorporated as a city
• 1876: Bismarck Tribune reporter Mark Kellogg killed at Little Big Horn

Capital of the Dakota Territory

The Missouri River railroad bridge opened in October 1882, completing the northern transcontinental railroad and connecting Bismarck to both coasts. The following year, in 1883, the capital of the Dakota Territory was relocated from Yankton to Bismarck, cementing the city's political importance. When the Dakota Territory was divided in 1889, Bismarck became the capital of the new state of North Dakota.

A devastating fire destroyed much of the business district in 1898, forcing significant rebuilding. The original territorial capitol building itself burned in 1930, leading to construction of the current Art Deco State Capitol, a 19-story tower that remains the tallest building in North Dakota. The rebuilding process was contentious, including a construction strike that ended only after the declaration of martial law.

• 1882: Railroad bridge across Missouri River completed
• 1883: Bismarck named capital of Dakota Territory
• 1889: Bismarck becomes capital of new state of North Dakota
• 1898: Major fire destroys much of business district
• 1930: Original capitol burns; current Art Deco capitol constructed (completed 1934)

Modern Growth and Stability

The 20th century brought steady development as Bismarck evolved from frontier town to regional center. The city established its first hospital in 1885 and continued building educational, healthcare, and government infrastructure. World War II brought the Fort Lincoln Internment Camp, which held German, Italian, and Japanese prisoners of war. The postwar era saw significant population growth and retail development.

The 1970s marked Bismarck's greatest period of expansion, with population increases and new business development reshaping the city. North Dakota's energy sector, including oil exploration in the western part of the state, has contributed to economic growth in recent decades. Today, Bismarck's economy centers on healthcare and state government, providing stability that has made it consistently one of the best small cities in America for careers and families.

The history visible throughout Bismarck today connects residents to explorers, indigenous peoples, railroad builders, and pioneers who shaped this community. From the reconstructed buildings at Fort Abraham Lincoln to the Cathedral Area Historic District's homes from 1875-1935, the past remains present in daily life.