| Summary: | military fort established in North Dakota, it was a terminus of several major travel routes through the northern plains. A museum at the site interprets the history of the fort and the area. Only one original building remains, but blockhouses and the palisade wall have been reconstructed. Open May 16 to September 15. Fort Buford State Historic Site In Williams County, 6 miles west, 14 1/2 miles southwest, and 1 mile south of Williston, Fort Buford preserves the remnants of a vital frontier plains military post. Upon the recommendations of General Alfred Sully, Fort Buford was built in 1866 near the confluence of the Missouri and Yellowstone rivers. After the abandonment of the American Fur Company's Fort Union in 1864, the area lost much of its importance as an Indian gathering place, and Fort Buford became a major supply depot for military field operations. Many prominent persons, military and civilian, visited this fort before its abandonment in 1895, including Generals Sherman, Sheridan and later J.J. "Black Jack" Pershing, then a young lieutenant enroute to Fort Assiniboine, Montana. Chief Joseph and his band of Nez Perce Indians were held here briefly in 1877 after their capture in the Bears Paw Mountains, and Sitting Bull surrendered here in 1881. Original features still existing on the site include a stone powder magazine, the post cemetery site, and a large officers quarters building which now houses a museum. It is listed the National Register of Historic Places. Open May 15 to September 15. Fort Dilts State Historic Site In Bowman County, 4 miles east, 2 miles north and 1 3/4 miles west of Rhame, Fort Dilts marks the location of sod wall protective enclosure constructed by travelers and the cavalry escort who were attacked by Sioux in 1864. The 80- wagon party, led by James L. Fisk, stayed corralled within the six feet high and two feet thick walls for 14 days until rescued by a column of troops from Fort Rice. Fort Ransom State Historic Site In Ransom County, 3/4 a mile southwest of the town of Fort Ransom, this site marks the location of a 200-man military post built in 1867 by General Alfred Terry and named for Civil War General Thomas Ransom. The post protected overland travelers until decommissioned in 1872. Although building locations and the dry moat, once eight feet deep, are still clearly discernible, nothing else remains of the original fort or its 12-foot high sod and log stockade. 1995 North Dakota Blue Book 583
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