Verendrye

North Dakota

39th National Monument

253.04 Acres

Established by Presidential Proclamation: June 29, 1917 by President Woodrow Wilson

Disbanded as a National Monument: July 30, 1956 by the 84th Congress

Wikipedia:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Verendrye_National_Monument

Transferred to North Dakota...

The monument was established to commemorate "the explorations of Pierre Gaultier de Varennes, sieur de La Vérendrye and his sons in North Dakota," but later research suggested that the expedition never was near the monument. (Wikipedia) Oops. So much for that.

Well, except for the fact that even later research suggests "that Crow Flies High Butte may indeed be the site where the Verendryes climbed to view the Little Missouri Valley in 1742. " Oops, again. And again, so much for that... Especially since most of the monument is now under the 3rd largest reservoir in the U. S. now, Garrison Dam's Lake Sakakawea. (Wikipedia)

Garrison Dam was completed in 1956, the same years as the abolishment of the monument, so that seems to make sense. One has to wonder if "getting the history" wrong was used more as an excuse to forgive flooding the monument than anything else.

Glimpses of Our National Monuments: Verendrye National Monument (1930)

National Park Service

The significance of this national monument, established June 29, 1917, with an area of 250.04 acres, is that it marks the spot on the left bank of the upper Missouri River where the sons of the celebrated French explorer, Verendrye, camped during their explorations in 1742, more than 60 years prior to the expedition of Lewis and Clark. It is associated with the first explorations of North Dakota and the interior of the Northwest. The records of their journeys are the subject of conflicting interpretations, but there is no question that the elder Verendrye was the first to enter North Dakota, this being in 1738, when he approached within a day's journey of the upper Missouri. Thus it is that picturesque Crowhigh Butte, rising 565 feet above the river on its left bank and the central feature of the monument, is one of the most important landmarks associated with the Verendrye explorations.

https://www.nps.gov/parkhistory/online_books/glimpses2/glimpses30.htm

Pruning the Parks: Verendrye National Monument (1917-1956)

National Parks Traveler

There is no incontrovertible proof that the Verendryes camped at Crowhigh Butte during this trip, but the records of the exploration seem to indicate that they crossed the Missouri in 1742 at the place that came to be known as Old Crossing. If they did indeed cross the river at Old Crossing, where there was a Mandan Indian village, it's inconceivable that they would have passed up the opportunity to get a panoramic view of the Little Missouri Valley, the great sweep of land through which they intended to travel.

Various local boosters and historians -- most particularly North Dakota's state historical society -- embraced this assumption as historical fact and successfully argued that Crowhigh Butte should be federally protected.

https://www.nationalparkstraveler.org/2010/07/pruning-parks-verendrye-national-monument-1917-19566324

Crow Flies High State Recreation Area

North Dakota Parks and Recreation Department

This scenic overlook just west of New Town provides views of Four Bears Bridge and Lake Sakakawea. During period of low water, glimpses can be seen of the town of Sanish, now covered by Lake Sakakawea.

Interpretive signs about local history have been placed at the site.

http://www.parkrec.nd.gov/recreationareas/cfhra/cfhra.html