Big Hidatsa Village Site | |
Nearest city | Stanton, North Dakota |
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Coordinates | 47°20′22″N 101°22′56″W / 47.33946°N 101.38214°W |
Area | 15 acres (6.1 ha) |
NRHP reference No. | 66000600 [1] |
Added to NRHP | October 15, 1966 |
The Big Hidatsa site, occupied between ca. 1740 and 1850, is an earthlodge located in the 1,758 acre Knife River Indian Villages National Historic Site in North Dakota, United States. [2] [3] This National Historic Site was established in 1974 “to focus on the cultures and lifestyles of the Plains Indians”. [3] [4] [5]
The Big Hidatsa site is located near the junction of the Knife and Missouri Rivers close to Stanton, North Dakota. [5] This location was a stop on the expedition of Lewis and Clark. Big Hidatsa was the largest village of the three on the site, with about 120 round earthlodges. [2] Fort Mandan was built about 2 miles away from Big Hidatsa by the Lewis and Clark expedition. [2]
The Big Hidatsa site and its neighbors are the villages at which Lewis and Clark and the Corps of Discovery were assisted by Sacagawea during their expedition. [3] When the explorers arrived in winter 1804, [2] between 4,000 and 5,000 Hidatsa and Mandan lived in this area, and there were more than 200 lodges. [5] Each of these earthlodges could hold 20 to 30 people. [2]
After Fort Mandan was erected by the Discovery Corps, trading was conducted between the men of the expedition and people of Big Hidatsa. [2] In fact, some artifacts from the inhabitants of the nearby site and its neighbors were sent to President Thomas Jefferson. [2] Communications with the Hidatsa and Mandan people here provided invaluable information about the culture and history of the people in the west. [2]
Depressions in the ground can be seen where the lodges once stood because the dirt surrounding the structures collapsed after it was abandoned. [3] Several invasive species, harmful tree fungus, and the erosion of the riverbank threaten the site. [5] The park has a rich collection of artifacts from the people who lived at the site.
The Knife River Indian Villages National Historic Site is also a destination for canoeing and hiking. [6] Canoeists who frequent the Knife or Missouri rivers can pass through the park.