Located just a few miles from the city, Lake Sakakawea is a popular destination for lovers of water sports. The expansive body of water stretches out over seventy miles and is the perfect place to enjoy fishing, swimming, canoeing, water skiing and jet skiing.
Link history with nature in a truly unforgettable way when you spend some time outdoors at the Camp Hancock State Historic Site. This camping area was originally founded in 1872 as Camp Grely, which was a military settlement established to provide protection for the men working on the Northern Pacific Railroad. The natural setting of the area is breathtaking, and an old log headquarters building, the last original structure, is one of the many highlights. The site is rightfully listed on the National Historic Register of Historic Places.
Learn about how the development of the American railroad system affected the history and progress of Bismarck and its surrounding areas when you experience the North Dakota State Railroad Museum. See various exhibits and attractions that tell the dramatic story of how this then-new method of transportation transformed the way people lived, communicated and did business. The story is vividly accentuated by an impressive collection of artifacts, machinery, pictures, and documents.
Hark back to a time when steamboats ruled the country's waterways as the chief means of transportation. Those mighty vessels had to be constructed, and it was no easy task! Learn about the fascinating and sometimes complicated story of how steamboats were built when you take a tour of the Steamboat Warehouse. This State Historical Marker is located on the east bank of the Missouri River in Bismarck across the road from the water treatment plant and it stands to commemorate the Northern Pacific Railroad warehouse where the steamboats were originally constructed.