Knife River Indian Villages National Historic Site
Earthlodge people hunted bison and other game, but were in essence farmers living in villages along the Missouri and its tributaries.
Photo: NPS photo / NPS
About Knife River Indian Villages National Historic Site
Earthlodge people hunted bison and other game, but were in essence farmers living in villages along the Missouri and its tributaries. The site was a major Native American trade center for hundreds of years prior to becoming an important market place for fur traders after 1750.
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Driving times from Knife River Indian Villages National Historic Site, one way, via road — a realistic day is 8–10 hours behind the wheel.
Hours
Standard Hours
- Mon
- 9:00AM - 5:00PM
- Tue
- 9:00AM - 5:00PM
- Wed
- 9:00AM - 5:00PM
- Thu
- 9:00AM - 5:00PM
- Fri
- 9:00AM - 5:00PM
- Sat
- 9:00AM - 5:00PM
- Sun
- 9:00AM - 5:00PM
Activities
Getting there
Summers are warm and sunny with temperatures occasionally reaching 100 degrees F and frequent afternoon thunderstorms. Winters are invigorating, with extremely cold temperatures as low as -35 degrees F. High winds and sunny skies are common in winter. Snow is sporadic in the relatively dry climate, but blizzards are common.
Frequently asked questions
- What is there to do at Knife River Indian Villages National Historic Site?
- Popular activities include Arts and Crafts, Arts and Culture, Birdwatching, Bookstore and Park Store, Citizen Science, Compass and GPS.
- Which national parks are within a day's drive of Knife River Indian Villages National Historic Site?
- Within about a day's drive you can reach Theodore Roosevelt National Park (2 h 46 min), Fort Union Trading Post National Historic Site (3 h 32 min), Devils Tower National Monument (5 h 56 min), Mount Rushmore National Memorial (6 h 18 min), Minuteman Missile National Historic Site (6 h 28 min), Little Bighorn Battlefield National Monument (6 h 31 min).