Fort Abraham Lincoln State Park
🏛️ North Dakota’s Oldest State Park — Where Custer Rode Out — Reconstructed Mandan earth lodges from On-A-Slant Village (1575–1781), the cavalry post where Custer departed for Little Bighorn, trails along the Missouri and Heart Rivers, camping with modern amenities, and immersive historical tours
On the west bank of the Missouri River — at the precise point where the Heart River flows into the Missouri just south of modern Mandan — two vastly different civilizations left their marks on the same stretch of North Dakota prairie. The Mandan people built a thriving village of earth lodges here around 1575, cultivating crops, hunting bison, and trading with neighboring tribes for more than 200 years before disease forced their departure in 1781. Three centuries later, the United States Army established a cavalry post on the same bluffs, and it was from Fort Abraham Lincoln that Lt. Col. George Armstrong Custer and the 7th Cavalry rode out on May 17, 1876 — never to return — on the campaign that ended at the Battle of the Little Bighorn.
Today, Fort Abraham Lincoln State Park — North Dakota’s oldest state park — preserves both stories. Reconstructed Mandan earth lodges at On-A-Slant Village allow visitors to step inside the same type of structures where families lived, worked, and held ceremonies for over two centuries. Reconstructed military buildings at the cavalry post — including the Custer House, barracks, stables, and the blockhouses of Fort McKeen — bring the frontier military era to life with guided tours and living history programs.
On-A-Slant Mandan Village
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| Occupied | ~1575–1781 (over 200 years) |
| People | Mandan — sedentary farmers and traders |
| Structures | Reconstructed earth lodges — walk inside |
| Location | Bluffs above Missouri/Heart River confluence |
| Abandonment | ~1781 — devastating smallpox epidemic |
Custer’s Cavalry Post
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| Established | 1872 (Fort McKeen), expanded 1873 (Fort Abraham Lincoln) |
| Famous Resident | Lt. Col. George Armstrong Custer, 7th Cavalry |
| Historic Event | Custer departed from here May 17, 1876 → Battle of Little Bighorn |
| Reconstructions | Custer House, barracks, stables, commissary, Fort McKeen blockhouses |
| Tours | Guided historical tours (May–September) |
Trails
| Trail | Difficulty | Highlights |
|---|---|---|
| Young Hawk Interpretive Trail | Easy | Interpretive signs, prairie ecology |
| Mato-Tope Trail | Moderate | River valley views, bluff hiking |
| Multi-use Trail System | Easy-Moderate | Hiking, mountain biking, horseback riding |
Camping
| Type | Details |
|---|---|
| Modern Campground | Along Missouri and Heart Rivers |
| Primitive Sites | Available |
| Cabins | Rental available |
| Reservations | reserveNDparks.com or 800-807-4723 |
Essential Visitor Information
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Address | 4480 Fort Lincoln Road, Mandan, ND 58554 |
| Hours | 7 AM – 10 PM daily (year-round) |
| Entrance Fee | $7 per vehicle |
| Tour Season | May – September (guided tours) |
| Phone | (701) 667-6340 |
Getting There
- From Bismarck: 7 miles south (~10 minutes)
- From Mandan: 4 miles south (~8 minutes)
- From Theodore Roosevelt NP (South Unit): 130 miles west (~2 hours)
- From Fargo: 195 miles west (~3 hours)
Did Custer really live at Fort Abraham Lincoln?
Yes. Lt. Col. George Armstrong Custer was stationed at Fort Abraham Lincoln with the 7th Cavalry from 1873 until his final departure on May 17, 1876. He lived in the Commanding Officer’s Quarters with his wife, Libbie. The house has been reconstructed and is open for guided tours. It was from this fort that Custer led the expedition that ended at the Battle of the Little Bighorn on June 25, 1876.
What are the earth lodges at On-A-Slant Village?
The earth lodges at On-A-Slant Village are reconstructed Mandan dwellings built on the original village site, which was occupied from approximately 1575 to 1781. Mandan earth lodges were large, dome-shaped structures made of timber frames covered with earth, grass, and soil. They could house extended families of 10-20 people. The village was abandoned around 1781 during a devastating smallpox epidemic. Visitors can walk inside the reconstructed lodges.
