North Dakota’s Historical Figures, Record Breakers, Star Athletes and Artists
North Dakota has a rich history of historical figures who spent time in the state.
- Theodore Roosevelt, the 26th President of the United States, lived in the Dakota Territory now known as North Dakota.
- Roosevelt wrote, “I never would have been President if it had not been for my experiences in North Dakota.”
- Today, western North Dakota is home to Theodore Roosevelt National Park. This park, near Medora, North Dakota, has beautiful rugged landscapes known as the Badlands.
- General George Armstrong Custer lived at Fort Lincoln, North Dakota, before leading the Seventh Cavalry to its fate at the Battle of the Little Big Horn.
- Sitting Bull, the Lakota Sioux spiritual leader, lived at Standing Rock and was buried at Fort Yates, North Dakota.
- Lewis and Clark, chosen by President Thomas Jefferson to map the West to the Pacific, led an expedition to explore the territory west of the Missouri River, including what is now the state of North Dakota. They left St. Louis in May 1804, and traveled up the Missouri River. In late fall 1804, they decided to spend winter with the Mandan Indians and constructed a camp called Fort Mandan. The fort was completed in December 1804, and was their home until April 1805. Because of this extended stay, Lewis and Clark spent more time in what became North Dakota than they did in any other state.
- With help from the Library of Congress, Senator Dorgan created a virtual exhibit of Lewis and Clark’s incredible journey filled with rare maps, original letters and colorful illustrations — many found only in the collections of the Library of Congress.
- At Fort Mandan, Lewis and Clark met Sakakawea, a courageous, young Native American woman. She helped guide the expedition on its westward venture. In 2003, the state of North Dakota honored Sakakawea by donating a statue, of her to the National Statuary Hall Collection in the U.S. Capitol.
North Dakota has many other native sons and daughters who tell remarkable success stories.
- Pilot Carl Ben Eielson, originally from Hatton, North Dakota, flew the first airplane over the Arctic Ocean in 1928.
- Roger Maris, who went to Shanley High School in Fargo, North Dakota, became a major league baseball powerhouse, breaking Babe Ruth’s single-season home run record by hitting 61 home runs in 1961.
- Phil Jackson, originally from Williston, North Dakota, is one of professional basketball’s most famous coaches. As head coach for the Chicago Bulls and later the Los Angeles Lakers, he has won nine NBA titles. He holds the record for playoff victories and playoff winning percentage as a coach.
- Jamestown, North Dakota was the birthplace for two major league baseball players currently playing in the major leagues. Darin Erstad is an outfielder for the Chicago White Sox, and Travis Hafner is the Cleveland Indians’ first baseman.
- Other famous North Dakotans include accordionist and TV show host Lawrence Welk; actress and Grammy award-nominated singer Peggy Lee; award-winning Western author and screenwriter Louis L’Amour; and hit singer Bobby Vee.
