Knife River Indian Villages National Historic Site

Today we headed over to the Knife River Indian Villages National Historic Site. this site was established in 1974 and  preserves the historic and archaeological remnants of bands of  Hidatsa and Northern Plains Indians in North Dakota.

According to Wikipedia,   This area was a major trading and agricultural area. Three villages were known to occupy the Knife area. In general, these three villages are known as Hidatsa villages. Broken down, the individual villages are Awatixa Xi'e (lower Hidatsa village), Awatixa and Big Hidatsa Village. Awatixa Xi'e is believed to be the oldest village of the three. The Big Hidatsa village was established around 1600.

After we left the Visitor Center and Museum, we headed outdoors to check out and Earth Lodge and see the area where the Plains Indians called home.

                              A Reconstructed Earth Lodge

Doorway with Buffalo Hide to keep the wind out 

and the Lodge Warm

Layout of the Lodges

After we left the area of the Lodge we took a walk on the River Villages Trail. You can still see from the earth where various lodges were.

We didn't make it to the river because it started to rain and we had to head back to the SUV before we got soaked!

Some gorgeous flowers near the Visitor Center.

After we were on the road, we found a place to eat dinner - Crossroads Bar & Grill in Center, North Dakota. The winds had really come up by that point. When Lee got out of the SUV, his hat was torn off his head and went flying. We found the hat on top of the roof of the Bar & Grill. The next big gust of wind had it flying and we raced to catch it. We got it but the head band to the hat was still on the roof. Even with the high winds, it stayed put and was still there when we finished eating. He had to live without it until we got back to the Rio Grande Valley. Then we took a trip over to Mexico and bought him a couple new hats - they are a match to the one he was wearing on this trip!