Bismarck North Dakota

This is the Missouri River in Bismarck, North Dakota. It's beautiful, loaded with pleasure boats and jet skis on a Sunday afternoon. The banks are lined with parks. Jogging/biking paths follow the river for miles with original art works and play grounds scattered throughout.

We were on a riverboat tour when I took this photo. The temperature was in the high 70's and so comfortable John and I both got sunburnt before we realized what was happening.

The road along the river front was a lot of fun to ride the Harley on,so we went up river for about 20 miles. There are some beautiful new homes being built right on the river.

The land is mostly flat here, and there are a lot of bicycles on the streets. If I lived here I'd have to try the bike paths.

Today we toured Fort Abraham Lincoln. Built in 1871, it had a different name for the first few months then changed to honor the former President. It was abandoned by the Army in 1890 and torn down by settlers for the wood. Many of the older homes in Bismarck are said to have lumber from the origional fort.
The base was home to Gen. Custer, and he left from here to go to the Battle of the Little Big Horn. His home has been reconstructed for tours, with guides in period costume. I learned that the General's wife, Libbie, had a cook and two other maids to help her make it through the day in 1873. It took her 1 1/2 hours to get ready every morning (Considered quick at the time), and she changed clothes 3-4 times a day.

Our guide was dressed as a laundress. They had one laundress for every 17 to 20 men, and it was considered a good job. One of the most famous, a Mrs. Nash, followed the 7th Cavalry for many years. She not only washed clothes, she altered and mended them. Her services as a mid-wife were highly sought after, and she married multiple times. After her death it was found that Mrs. Nash was a man.