Skip to Main Content

Rare rock pile.

Indian Massacre Monument and Rare Rock Pile

Field review by the editors.

Merricourt, North Dakota

Santee Sioux warriors killed hundreds of whites in western Minnesota in 1862. The following year General Alfred Sully led his calvary deep into Dakota Territory to hunt them down. After an unsuccessful campaign, the general came across a large Indian hunting camp at Whitestone Hill. These Indians hadn't been in Minnesota, but Sully opened fire anyway. A two-day battle ensued, leaving 20 whites and between 150 and 300 Indians dead. It was, as a monument here notes, the "greatest massacre in North Dakota history."

There are actually three monuments for this massacre. The oldest and biggest, on the hill top, mourns the whites and ignores the Indians. Two others -- mere bronze plaques -- are at the bottom of the hill. They were erected much later. One mourns the Indians and the other tries to explain both sides of the story. Visitors can choose which monument suits them, although the whites clearly have won the photo opportunity battle.

Also here, standing in the narrow stretch of grass between the parking lot and the road that leads to the park supervisor's house, is a small, squat cairn of rocks, glued together with cement. An equally small, badly weathered wood sign teeters in front of it: "These rare stones are from the collection of Tom Shimmin, Dickey County pioneer." They appear to be the same brown rocks that one sees in every other cairn in North Dakota. When the sign falls down, no one will even notice that this pile exists -- unless they trip over it trying to take pictures of the massacre monuments.

Indian Massacre Monument and Rare Rock Pile

Whitestone Battlefield State Park

Address:
73rd Ave. SE, Merricourt, ND
Directions:
Whitestone Battlefield State Park. 73rd Ave. SE to the park. The rare rock pile has its own sign, and is in the narrow stretch of grass between the parking lot and the road that leads to the park supervisor's house
Save to My Sights

Nearby Offbeat Places

Smallest City in USA (In Two Counties)Smallest City in USA (In Two Counties), Lehr, ND - 25 mi.
Mr. Wheat's Minuteman MissileMr. Wheat's Minuteman Missile, LaMoure, ND - 30 mi.
Badger Mascot StatueBadger Mascot Statue, Wishek, ND - 34 mi.
In the region:
Dinosaurs On The Prairie, Napoleon, ND - 46 mi.

More Quirky Attractions in North Dakota

Stories, reports and tips on tourist attractions and odd sights in North Dakota.

Explore Thousands of Unique Roadside Landmarks!

Strange and amusing destinations in the US and Canada are our specialty. Start here.
Use RoadsideAmerica.com's Attraction Maps to plan your next road trip.

My Sights

My Sights on Roadside America

Map and Plan Your Own Roadside Adventure ...Try My Sights

Mobile Apps

Roadside America app: iPhone, iPad Roadside America app for iPhone, iPad. On-route maps, 1,000s of photos, special research targets! ...More

Roadside Presidents app: iPhone, iPad Roadside Presidents app for iPhone, iPad. POTUS landmarks, oddities. ...More

North Dakota Latest Tips and Stories

Latest Visitor Tips

Sight of the Week

Sight of the Week

Easter Island Moai in America (Mar 25-31, 2024)

SotW Archive

USA and Canada Tips and Stories

More Sightings

Favorite Quirky City Sights