State Historical Society of North Dakota
05/21/2026 | Press release | Archived content
Fort Mandan brings history to life with interactive summer program series
May 21, 2026
WASHBURN, N.D. - Discover summer fun at Fort Mandan State Historic Site, Washburn. Enjoy free interactive learning programs for all ages. Learn new skills and create hands-on projects centered on the themes of recreation in June, naturalism in July, survival in August, and agriculture and ecology in September. Programs are offered throughout the day.
June 1-5, Native American Sports and Games. Discover leisure activities the members of the Lewis and Clark Expedition learned from the Mandans and Hidatsas during their time at Fort Mandan.
June 6-7, Paper Boat Challenge. Build a boat to transport goods up the river for the fur trade.
June 8-12, Card Games Among the Fur Traders. Learn card games popular with French Canadian fur traders during the time of the expedition.
June 13-14, Sun Prints. Design beautiful art using the sun and items found in nature.
June 15-19, Card Games Among the Fur Traders. Learn card games popular with French Canadian fur traders during the time of the expedition.
June 20-21, Bubble Art. Create colorful bubble art on a postcard, or bring white T-shirts, blankets, or towels from home to decorate.
June 22-26, The Fur Trade Game. Put your business sense to the test in this Fort Clark fur trade game. Will the cards be kind or cruel?
June 27-28, Papermaking. Learn the basics of papermaking and make a unique paper creation to take home.
These programs are part of the ND250 commemoration celebrating our country's 250th birthday.
For more information, contact Interpretive Coordinator Bethany Schatz, 701.462.8535 or [email protected]. The Lewis & Clark Interpretive Center and Fort Mandan State Historic Site are managed by the State Historical Society of North Dakota. Both locations are open daily from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. through Sept. 30. Find additional upcoming programs of the State Historical Society at history.nd.gov/events.
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CONTACT
Kara Haff, Public Information Officer
[email protected]
701.328.3547
State Historical Society of North Dakota published this content on May 21, 2026, and is solely responsible for the information contained herein. Distributed via Public Technologies (PUBT), unedited and unaltered, on May 27, 2026 at 21:56 UTC. If you believe the information included in the content is inaccurate or outdated and requires editing or removal, please contact us at [email protected]