Confluence, Forts, and Time Zones

North Dakota - same

Our next stop is further into North Dakota at Fort Union and this is when we figured out our next Oops. We forgot that North Dakota is in the Central Time Zone and Montana is in the Mountain Time Zone. So we lost an hour when we crossed the border. That meant that the Fort and the gate were closed.

Between 1828 and 1867, Fort Union was the most important fur trade post on the Upper Missouri River. During the summer season they have lots of activities. But all we got was a picture.

Moving on to the Confluence of the Yellowstone and the Missouri Rivers. Originating high in the interior of Yellowstone National Park at the Yellowstone Lake in Wyoming, the Yellowstone River flows 676 miles to its confluence with the Missouri River - unrestrained by a single dam. Eventually, the Yellowstone River joins the Missouri River just past the border with North Dakota.

Once again the Interpretive Center is closed so we went looking for the actual site.  

The river flowing from the left is the Missouri. The Yellowstone is flowing from the south. When they meet at the red marker (the Confluence) the Yellowstone flows into the Missouri and continues eastward as the Missouri River.

It's a beautiful place and we tried to imagine what it was like when Lewis and Clark were there. I'm sure the rivers were flowing much higher and wilder. Close your eyes and listen to the clashing of the two rivers as they struggle for dominance. 

Fort Buford was also closed but there were a couple of buildings that were open and others had windows to look in. Fort Buford was built in 1866 as a military outpost. It is probably best remembered as the place where the famous Hunkpapa Sioux leader, Sitting Bull, surrendered in 1881.

This photo does not do this dragonfly justice. His/her wings were glittering so brightly and was just incredibly gorgeous.

This was the original cemetery. The headstones have been refurbished and replaced as needed. Several of the headstones tell what the men or women died of. Several suicides.

 Vaughn found this grave and wondered if she could be one of my relatives. My maiden name is Mercer. There's not much information available about this little girl but I may just have to keep looking.

 

There are some very interesting stories about those who died at Fort Buford. Here's a link if you're interested in reading some of them. Fort Buford Cemetery

Masons at Fort Buford

Most of the members were veterans of the Civil War. Yellowstone Lodge #88 was founded in 1871 and the membership began with 29 freemasons. Only white men were allowed to be members. When the soldiers at Fort Buford were moved to Fort Shaw (in Montana), they lost most of their membership and in 1874 surrendered their charter.

This horse sculpture (located behind the lodge) is a tribute to buffalo soldiers at Fort Buford.

By this time, it is starting to get late and time to head back to the hotel. I did take a couple of pictures of old buildings in Fairview that I thought were interesting.

The old Hotel Albert. No longer a hotel but still operating as a casino, bar and restaurant.

 The old bank building

Sunday morning we attended church. My Grandma Haase and my sister were two of the very first members of the Latter-day Saint church in Sidney. In fact, we did not have a chapel to meet in. A couple of places we met were a Quonset hut in Fairview and the Girl Scout Cabin in Sidney. The congregation has definitely grown and they have a beautiful chapel. There were still a few people who remember my folks and me and it was fun to visit with them.