The effect of Prince Maximilian on the Mandan.

Today at the On-A-Slant Village, I gave a tour to two German gentlemen who were interested in the Mandan people. The older gentleman had read many books on Mandan culture and he asked very good questions about how they lived, he asked questions about the Mandan: diet, cultural practices, hunting practices, and the building of Earthlodges. Every other year they come to the United States and learn about the Mandan and other Native American peoples. He said that Fort Lincoln State Park was one of their favorite places to visit in the United States. After the tour was finished he said he enjoyed it, and learned a lot about the Mandan, then he gave me a postcard from his home city of Dresden. Many Germans seem to be similarly enthralled with the Mandan, as we have quite a few Germans come visit the park every year. This may have something to do with the fact that Prince Maximilian of Wied, traveled and studied the Mandan and Hidatsa peoples. Upon his return to Wied, the Prince published his findings on the Mandan and Hidatsas. These findings created an ideal of the "noble savage" and created a spark of interest that can be seen to this day. The findings of Maximilian and the Swiss artist who accompanied him, Karl Bodmer have helped to extend our understanding of the Mandan, while connecting an unlikely group of people, the Germans, to them. Maximilian has inspired the imagination of his people and caused them to place great significance on the history of the Mandan people.

Pictured above is a photograph of the Frauenkirche, similar to the postcard given to me.