The Mandan and Hidatsa lived along the mouth of the Knife River. Tipis were lived in during the nomadic hunting season.	Knife River Indian Village Site	The banks of the Knife River provided clay for pottery and mortar for the earthlodges built by the Hidatsa and Mandan Indians of the prairie.
It took around 300 to 400 cottonwood trees to construct the earthlodges built by the Mandan and Hidatsa Indians.	Clay from the Knife River bank was used to make pottery for food preparation purposes.	The Hidatsa, Arikara, and Mandan tribes living along the Missouri River viewed their earthlodges as sacred. To give back to the spirit of the earthlodge, the Hidatsa wrapped the four central posts of the structure in valuable hide, which remained with the lodge.
The Hidatsa were taught by the Mandan how to farm crops.	Meat drying rack used by Hidatsa at Knife River Indian Village site.	The plains tribes kept a pictorial history of important events on a buffalo hide, which was often displayed in the earthlodge.
Replica of a Mandan/Hidatsa Earth lodge at Knife River Indian Village historical site.	Cottonwood trees were essential for survival. These trees served as a source of fuel for heat, and for the construction of earthlodges.	Fort Mandan served as the winter headquarters from 1804-1805 for the Corps of Discovery. It was here Lewis and Clark befriended the area’s tribes, and named the fort after the Mandan Indians. Sakakawea, who stayed in Fort Mandan, served as Lewis and Clark’s interpreter. Her son, Baptiste, was born here.
Cottonwoods near Seaman Overlook in Washburn, ND.	A forested area surrounds the Killdeer Mountains, which helped Sioux Indians escape the Battle of the Killdeer Mountains.	The forested foothills of the Killdeer Mountains.
Two years following the US-Dakota War of 1862 in Minnesota, General Sully set out to wage war on Sioux tribes in Western North Dakota. On July 28, 1864, Sully attacked Sioux Indians 8.5 miles northwest of what is known today as Killdeer, Dunn County. Many of these Sioux tribes were not involved in the US-Dakota War, yet were being punished for the conflict of 1862. The Battle of Killdeer Mountain resulted in the second largest number of deaths of any war fought in North Dakota involving Indians.	Natural Rock formations, including Signet Rock, Three Old Maids and Eagle Rock surround the Killdeer Mountains.	The forested area of the Killdeer Mountains.
The Killdeer Mountains	Double Ditch Indian Village was occupied for approximately 300 years by the Mandan Indians. The village was one of seven to nine villages that was next to the Heart River, a tributary of the Missouri River. The village was abandoned around 1785 due to the smallpox epidemic.