North Dakota

North Dakota Capitol

Yes, that building in the background is the Capitol of North Dakota. Around Bismarck, it's called the skyscraper. They claim it's not the tallest structure in North Dakota; that honor goes to a 2000 foot TV tower. So, I guess it's just the tallest building in North Dakota.

We found time for a walk around the ground on a crisp May morning. The grounds are adorned with various statues, generally representing the historical development of North Dakota. The statue in front of the capitol is of the Pioneer Family. The settlement of North Dakota by Europeans is a story of hardship, working difficult land with few resources. The pioneers built sod huts, huddled together for warmth in arctic winters, and scraped meager crops out of the hard prairie. Somebody had to do it. I'm really glad it wasn't me.

Buffalo Statue

The buffalo is another important icon in the history of North Dakota. Plains Indians hunted them for food, clothing, bowstrings, dishes, and numerous other elements of life. The white men hunted them for the sheer sport of killing a big animal, nearly sending them into extinction.

Lewis and Clark ventured up the Missouri River in search of the mythical Northwest Passage. They hired a french trapper, Charbonneau, to guide for them. He brought along his Indian wife, Sakakawea (also spelled Sakagawea), which turned out to be a most fortunate event. Having a woman in the party suggested that the expedition was peaceful. In addition, Sakakawea's brother turned out to be a Shoshone chief that they encountered, and her presence pacified the skittish tribe.
Sakakwea

The statue of Sakakwea on the capitol grounds was sculpted by Chicago artist Leonard Crunell and unveiled in 1910, shortly after the 100th anniversary of Lewis and Clark's expedition. Crunell used a woman named Mink, also known as Hannah Levings, as the model for Sakakwea. Mink is a direct descendant of Sakakwea.