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| North Dakota Humanities Council | Dr. Brigit Hans, Maximilian scholar.
Department Chair, Indian Studies program, University of North Dakota. |
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Prince Maximilian of Wied Headlines this Year’s Rendezvous at Fort Union Trading Post
Prince Maximilian of Wied, German nobleman and scientist, who explored the upper Missouri in 1832-34, is the featured subject of this year’s Fort Union Rendezvous. From his travels, Maximilian left an extensive account of Indian life and the natural world of this region. Now, for the first time, a complete, unabridged translation from the old German has been published by the University of Oklahoma Press. The first of three volumes, covering the period May 1832–April 1833, will be available for sale in the bookstore at Fort Union Trading Post. The cost of the first volume is $85.00 cloth.
The Rendezvous headliner this year is Dr. Birgit Hans, chair of the Indian Studies Department at the University of North Dakota. “Prince Maximilian on the Upper Missouri” is her subject, which she will address Thursday through Sunday afternoon in the clerk’s office at 2 p.m. Dr Hans will be followed each afternoon by local actor Arch Ellwein, who will channel Prince Maximilian himself in a first person portrayal.
Fort Union Rendezvous, a fur trade fair co-sponsored by the National Park Service and the Friends of Fort Union/Fort Buford, will take place Thursday-Sunday, June 19-22.
The Rendezvous will feature about a dozen traders along Trader’s Row extending north out the gate of the reconstructed post. The traders will feature their usual array of furs and handcrafted items for sale. A number of reenactors will demonstrate a variety of 19th century fur trade skills including blacksmithing, beaver skinning, brain tanning, frontier photography, finger weaving, and period dress. Bagpipers will perform Sunday afternoon from 12:30–3:30 pm (CT).
We will host the “Fort Union Float to the Confluence” again this year. The public is welcome to participate in this water borne event which will begin at the end of the trail from the Fort Union parking lot on Friday at noon (CT). Bring your own canoe to the handicapped parking lot and we’ll portage to water’s edge. Participant’s will then float the 5 ½ miles to the Confluence. All you need is a canoe, life jacket and a way to return to Fort Union. The expedition will be led by Jeff Brown in his voyageur canoe.
The 17th annual Rendezvous Run will take place Saturday morning at 9:00 am (CT). The event is sponsored by the American State Bank and will include 11K and 5K runs, a 5K walk, and a “one-mile” fur trader’s run/walk.
Come and spend the day at Rendezvous. Admission is free. Buffalo burgers and drinks will be on sale in the parking lot.
Complete 2008 Rendezvous schedule
Rendezvous Photo gallery
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