Journey to the center of the United States
North Dakota – where tourists are almost alone
14/05/2016, 12:17
Sunny California or elegant New York attract large numbers of tourists. A US state like North Dakota sometimes takes a back seat. There are only a few tourists there. But this state is particularly interesting for the Germans.
North Dakota doesn’t exactly look like the center of North America. Geographically speaking, it is here. Otherwise, the state is a quiet piece of land, away from the busy metropolises of California or the east coast, which is why it attracts tourists.
The capital of the powerful federal state has a very familiar name to the Germans: Bismarck. “Yes, there were a lot of German immigrants. You can still tell by the names around here,” says Mike Seminary. Seminary is the mayor of the largest city in North Dakota. “Our most important industries are still agriculture and oil. But tourism comes next.” The vast majority of visitors are Americans. “But every now and then a German comes and asks why our name is Bismarck.”
True Prussians might be disappointed. Because the legacy of the great statesman is not exactly cultivated here. Neither street nor school names are named in his sense and a bust is sought in vain. “Yeah, you really shouldn’t tell anyone,” says Seminary. “But ultimately Otto von Bismarck had nothing to do with our city. It was the admirers who founded it.” The prince himself never made it to America.
Few traces of German immigrants remained
For the mayor, the biggest attraction is the people themselves: “Here it is relaxed and unconventional. The doors are open everywhere and there is no security here.” In fact, you can simply enter the State Capitol, North Dakota’s state legislature. Anyone can peek into both chambers of law whenever he wants, and the governor’s conference room is also open.
In addition to little Bismarck, there are other interesting destinations in North Dakota. A few minutes south is Fort Abraham Lincoln. It was founded in 1872. Most of what can be seen today are true replicas of the original. It is also the seat of the last home of perhaps the most famous cavalry officer of the Indian wars – George Custer was in command here before leading his men to the sinking in the Battle of Little Bighorn.
Proud of Sitting Bull
Just behind the fort is a replica of an Indian village. Native Americans are proud of here, especially the most famous of them all: Sitting Bull, which has been the driving force behind Indian resistance for decades. He later appeared in Wild West shows and campaigned for reconciliation. Today there are two tombs for the great Indian leader. Both are located on the western shore of Missouri. The northern one is indicated only as a burial place. Sitting Bull was buried here. Today the place is difficult to find.
But in 1953 his tribal brothers wanted to see the great buried chief more dignified. So they exhumed what they thought was his body and went to another site on the Missouri River, near Sitting Bull’s birthplace, where today stands a simple column with the head’s bust.
However, no one knows if the right remains were unearthed. Additionally, the site now officially designated as a burial site is already in South Dakota. But you won’t find any borders in this part of America anyway.
