H & R Block

The stories, traditions and culture of the area's Native Americans are treasures too precious and rare to lose. That is why there are places like Bismarck's Double Ditch Indian Village State Historic Site. In the wake of Louis and Clark's expedition and the eventual takeover of the land by settlers, groups like the Sioux Indians held on to their claims as much as they could, and this site stands as a reminder of their 3,000-year old Mandan Indian Village that remains a significant part of their history. Take a self-guided tour with the help of information provided by the Bismarck Convention and Visitors Bureau to get the whole story of this fascinating area.

One of Bismarck's most distinctive attractions is the North Dakota State Capitol Building. Known by the locals as the “Skyscraper on the Prairie,” the facility is well worth visiting for its fascinating historical significance. This Art-Deco style building was completed in 1933 and stands at an impressive 19 stories. The state's past, present and future all reside within the walls of this structure that also features an arboretum garden that includes a bronze Sakakawea and a rendering of a pioneer family.

If you think that the concept of the cowboy was invented by John Wayne-types, Bismarck's North Dakota Cowboy Hall of Fame will challenge everything you think you know about cattle rustlers from the past. This attraction is an interpretive center for the history of Native Americans, and you will see the dramatic link between their culture to various “western” traditions like the rodeo, ranching, and the rustic “cowboy” lifestyle that owes much to the tribes that first inhabited the land.