Fort Mandan Visitor Center

In a fort made of cottonwood logs, nestled in forest land on the banks of the upper Missouri River, members of the Lewis and Clark expedition spent five months making preparations for their westward journey to the Pacific Ocean. Fort Mandan, named in honor of one of the area’s hospitable Indian tribes, was a factor in many of the key elements of the next leg of the trip. Here, as they awaited the spring thaw, the explorers sketched maps, gathered information from Indians who had traveled to the west, repaired equipment, and met Sacagawea, who would be their guide along the way. Stroll through the reconstructed fort in Washburn, North Dakota, and imagine life here in the harsh winter of late 1804 and early 1805. Rooms furnished with period reproductions, stone fireplaces, sleeping bunks, tools and clothing will help guide your imagination. The fort is just a few miles from the North Dakota Lewis & Clark Interpretive Center.