Journey to the center of the USA
North Dakota – where tourists are almost alone
05/14/2016, 12:17 p.m
Sunny California or hip New York attract huge 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 Germans.
North Dakota doesn’t exactly look like the center of North America. Geographically speaking, he is here. Otherwise, the state is a quiet patch of earth, far away from the hectic metropolises of California or the east coast – and that’s exactly why it’s attractive to tourists.
The capital of the mighty federal state has a name that is very familiar to Germans: Bismarck. “Yes, there used to be a lot of German immigrants. You can still tell by the names around here,” says Mike Seminary. Seminary is mayor of the largest city in North Dakota. “Our most important industries are still agriculture and oil. But right following that comes tourism.” The vast majority of visitors are Americans. “But every now and then a German comes along 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 names nor a school are named in his sense and one searches in vain for a bust. “Yeah, you really shouldn’t tell anyone that,” says Seminary. “But basically Otto von Bismarck had nothing to do with our city. It was admirers who founded it.” The prince himself never made it to America.
Few traces of German immigrants left
For the mayor, the greatest attraction is the people themselves. “It’s relaxed and unconventional here. Doors are open everywhere and there’s no such thing as security here.” In fact, you can just walk into the State Capitol, the state legislature of North Dakota. Anyone can peek into both chambers of law whenever they want, and even the governor’s conference room is 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 replicas that are true to the original. It is also home to 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 their sinking at the Battle of the Little Bighorn.
Proud of Sitting Bull
Right 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. He was the driving force behind the Indian resistance for decades. He later appeared on Wild West shows and campaigned for reconciliation. Today there are two graves for the great Indian leader. Both are on the west bank of the Missouri. The northern one is only referred to as a burial place. Sitting Bull was buried here. Today the place is hard to find.
But in 1953 his tribal brothers wanted to see the great chief buried more dignified. So they exhumed what they thought was his body and made it to another site on the Missouri River near Sitting Bull’s birthplace. A plain pillar with a bust of the chief stands there today.
However, nobody knows whether the right remains were dug up. In addition, the place 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.
