Bowman County: History and Travel Ideas

The Fort Dilts State Historic Site in Bowman County marks the location of a historic event. Bowling, movies, and golf are recreational activities in the city of Bowman. The city lies in southwestern North Dakota and is described as either the first or last city you reach in the state, depending on your direction of travel. For trip planning, this lets you consider history, seasonal tours, and recreation in Bowman as distinct focuses.

Fort Dilts and the History of Emigration

During the event, emigrants in a wagon train under threat formed a circle with their wagons and waited for cavalry to rescue them. For travelers interested in the history of emigration, this episode offers a clearly defined historical reference: a group of travelers in a dangerous situation, waiting for help.

Museum Tours: Paleontology and Archaeology

The Pioneer Trails Regional Museum’s paleontological site tours teach visitors about local geology, the fossils found in the area, and proper collecting methods. Participants help collect fossils and learn about the processes in the museum’s preparation lab. The tours thus combine geology and fossils with hands-on collecting and laboratory work.

Site tours are available seasonally. Summer dates are scheduled for Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays, weather permitting. Check in advance whether your preferred date is available.

The museum’s annual ATV tour offers a different perspective. Participants accompany the archaeology department along historic trails in the surrounding area. They learn about the history of the land and its people and see artifacts left behind. Dates and the route may change; check in advance if you plan to include the tour in your itinerary.

The two tour formats differ in topic and planning: the site tours focus on geology, fossils, and preparation processes; the ATV tour focuses on archaeology, historic trails, and artifacts. The site tours are seasonal and weather-dependent, while the date and route of the ATV tour may change.

Bowman: Bowling, Movies, and Golf

South Main Lanes is an eight-lane bowling alley in downtown Bowman. It offers sanctioned leagues, group events, and open bowling. The schedule may change; check current offerings if you are planning for a specific date.

The Bowman Theater in the city of Bowman opened in 1946 and has more than 300 seats. On weekends, the theater shows movies and hosts live events. Since the schedule may change, it is a good idea to check the dates before your visit.

Sweetwater Golf Course in the city of Bowman is a 9-hole golf course. Paved roads connect the Sweetwater Golf Course clubhouse in Bowman to Highway 85. Operating conditions may change; check the current situation before planning a round.

Discover more destinations

Discover more destinations: Bowman, Ramsey, Eddy County, Mountrail County, Cass, Billings County, Mercer, Stark County.

For the broader travel overview: North Dakota.