On-A-Slant Village

Over 400 years old, On-A-Slant Village is located in North Dakota near the confluence of the Heart River with the Missouri River. On October 20, 1804 the Corps of Discovery stopped at the On-A- Slant Village and visited with the local Native Chief Too né. On-A-Slant Village was the former Mandan settlement, which were a major hub for trade in the Great Plains. By the time the Corps of Discovery stopped there the village was but remains from a smallpox outbreak in 1781.

William Clark recounted in his journal, “I saw an old remains of a village on the Side of a hill which the Chief with us Too né tels me that nation lived in a number of villages on each Side of the river and the Troublesom Seauex caused them to move about 40 miles higher up where they remained for a fiew years & moved to the place they live now.”  Before the smallpox epidemic the Mandan Village included about 75 earthlodges and roughly 1,000 residents.

Today On-A-Slant Village and lives within the Fort Abraham Lincoln State Park.  Designated in 1907, it is the oldest state park in North Dakota. While no preexisting earthlodges remain, the site retains archaeological evidence of the original site. Since the designation of the park, five earthlodges have been reconstructed. While visiting you can enjoy interpretive tours that offer an introduction to the historic Mandan culture.

The Abraham Lincoln State Park also has trails, camping, hiking, cabins, a recreation of the military fort and horse riding.