Press Release - Cemetery Walk at Fort Buford October 24th

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Erik Holland
October 16, 2009
(701) 572-9034

WILLISTON – Visit with "ghostly" former residents of Fort Buford during an evening walk through the old fort cemetery on Saturday, October 24. Beginning at 7 p.m. Central Time, re-enactors will portray past residents of Fort Buford, including an officer’s wife, a laundress, a scout, soldiers and a civilian of nearby Fort Union Trading Post. Visitors should wear clothing and shoes appropriate to the weather and are welcome to bring flashlights.

There is no admission charge for this event.

The cemetery walks begin at the gate of the Fort Buford Cemetery where visitors will assemble. Tour leaders will orient visitors and escort them through the cemetery where they will be confronted by a series of “ghostly” former residents. Every 15 minutes beginning at 7 p.m., a tour of 20 to 25 people will be conducted through the cemetery. The last tour will begin at 8:15 p.m. The cemetery will be illuminated by candlelight and lanterns.

Guests are invited to the Missouri-Yellowstone Confluence Interpretive to warm-up and enjoy free refreshments. The Confluence Center’s museum store will also be open for business.

Fort Buford was established as a military post in 1866 to guard the trails west and serve as a major supply depot, functioning until 1895. When the fort was decommissioned in 1895, it included more than 100 buildings and structures. Today, in addition to the Field Officer’s Quarters where Sitting Bull surrendered in 1881, two other original buildings remain – the Officer-of-the-Day Building and the stone powder magazine. The state acquired the Fort Buford property as a state historic site on June 22, 1931. Today, the site encompasses approximately 189 acres, including Confluence Park, where the Missouri-Yellowstone Confluence Interpretive Center is located.

The Missouri-Yellowstone Confluence Interpretive Center tells the story of the confluence of these two mighty rivers, provides the same magnificent view that Lewis and Clark Expedition members enjoyed when they visited in 1805 and 1806 and offers events and programs dealing with the confluence of cultures. Open year-round, the Confluence Centers winter hours are Wednesday through Saturday from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., and Sunday from 1 to 5 p.m. Central Time.

For more information, contact Fort Buford State Historic Site Supervisor Erik Holland at (701) 572-9034 or check the web at www.history.nd.gov.

Address:
612 East Boulevard Ave.
Bismarck, North Dakota 58505
Get Directions

Hours:
Exhibit galleries and Museum Store: 8am - 5pm M-F; Sat. & Sun. 10am - 5pm.
State Archives: 8am - 4:30pm., M-F, except legal holidays, and 2nd Sat. of each month, 10am - 4:30 pm.
State Historical Society offices: 8am - 5pm M-F, except legal holidays.

Contact Us:
phone: (701) 328-2666
fax: (701) 328-3710
email: histsoc@nd.gov