Jousting moose bulls - National Parks Gallery
Two moose bulls lock antlers in a contest of wills. The test of strength is viewed from the gallery along Fort Union Trading Post's south palisade wall. The bulls are tussling in the Missouri River channel at t... More
Emerging into the light - Public Domain image, National Parks Gallery
Richardson's Ground Squirrels are year-long North Dakota residents. As this one does, they emerge in the spring after hibernating for the winter in their burrows. This individual had burrowed beneath the beams ... More
Bodmer Overlook: A higher perspective
A few steps nearer the top of Bodmer Overlook one begins to see the vast expanse of the area surrounding the Missouri and Yellowstone Rivers' confluence. That confluence of these major rivers is marked by the d... More
Karl Bodmer - Where Bodmer painted
The view as one approaches the top of Fort Union Trading Post's Bodmer Overlook. At this spot in 1833, the Swiss artist Karl Bodmer sketched the first drafts of what later becomes the most famous view created o... More
Thirteen-lined ground squirrel - Public Domain image, National Parks G...
In 1843, the naturalist John James Audubon and his illustrator Isaac Sprague drew at least one sketch of two thirteen-lined ground squirrels at Fort Union Trading Post. If one looks closely at their sketch--the... More
Glass Bead (FOUS 39311) - Public Domain image, National Parks Gallery
Very light yellowish-brown, lampworked drawn glass bead. According to Lester A. Ross, author of Trade Beads from Archeological Excavations at Fort Union Trading Post National Historic Site, "beads of this class... More
Moose scat, National Parks gallery
Moose and deer scat, or pellets, are similar except in size. Because moose are many times larger than deer, they eat more and their scat, or excrement, is likewise larger.
Thirteen-lined ground squirrel - Public Domain image, National Parks G...
Did you know thirteen-llined ground squirrels are rodents? These lively ground-dwellers differ from the Richardson's ground squirrel one sees at Fort Union in more than their distinctive fur pattern and colorin... More
Moose tracks in the snow - Public Domain image, National Parks Gallery
The trail of hoofprints in the snow left by a pair of moose. The two moose were moving in the direction of the horizon.
Prepared to dive into its burrow
Year-long North Dakota residents, buff and tan-haired Richardson's Ground Squirrels breed in the spring season. When full grown like the one pictured here, they are about the one-quarter the size of prairie dog... More
Prairie grass at sunset - Public Domain image, National Parks Gallery
With the golden light of sunset illuminating the clouds behind them, shadow-blackened prairie grasses bend in an early May wind. These grasses viewed from below line one of the several former banks of the Misso... More
Frost in the trees - Public Domain image, National Parks Gallery
The view east down the Missouri River channel from Fort Union's south palisade gallery. Frost-covered trees such as these are a common sight in North Dakota in mid December. Seeing such a sight first-hand helps... More
Beaver-toppled tree - National Parks Gallery
Because beaver are most often active at night, meaning they're nocturnal animals, Fort Union Trading Post's visitors most frequently sees signs that beaver are reside in or near the Missouri River where it pass... More
Richardson's Ground Squirrel - National Parks Gallery
Colony-dwelling Richardson's Ground Squirrels such as this one peaking out from it burrow is a common mammal that spring and summer visitors are likely to see at Fort Union Trading Post. As with all animals, vi... More
Sniffing the new shoots - Public Domain image, National Parks Gallery
A porcupine sniffs at the new shoots of grass sprouting in the bottom lands along the Missouri River. Before European glass trade beads became available through the fur trade, the Upper Missouri tribes used the... More
Tepees at sunset - National Parks Gallery
Early evening's golden daylight shines on the tepees and bluffs visitors can see out Fort Union Trading Post's back, or north, gate.
And we're walking . . . - National Parks Gallery
A porcupine strolls in bright April sunlight across the previous year's dried grass in the Missouri River bottom lands near Fort Union Trading Post National Historic Site.
Public domain images of wildlife: A Porcupine
A porcupine in April ambles across the previous year's dried grass to sniff at the new shoots beginning to appear. Porcupines can sometimes be found high in the trees edging the river's current and former banks... More
Where the quills come from - Public Domain image, National Parks Galle...
Porcupine use the white, needle-like quills on their tails and backsides to protect themselves from predators. Women from the Upper Missouri tribes would collect and dye these quills to make colorful decoration... More
The river-front gate - Public Domain image, National Parks Gallery
Fort Union Trading Post's whitewashed south palisade wall and bastion once provided a windbreak for the northern plains tribes that in winter visited and stayed in tepees outside the post. During their visits, ... More
Fort Union Trading Post National Historic Site
Tipis near the fort Public domain photograph by National Parks Administration, nature conservation, tourism, free to use, no copyright restrictions image - Picryl description
Fort Union Trading Post National Historic Site
Bourgeois House and Visitor Center Public domain photograph of a post office building, postal service, free to use, no copyright restrictions image - Picryl description
Fort Union Trading Post National Historic Site
Southwest Bastion Public domain photograph of a post office building, postal service, free to use, no copyright restrictions image - Picryl description
Fort Union Trading Post National Historic Site
Main Gate, Indian Trade Houses, and Buffalo Robe Press Public domain photograph of a post office building, postal service, free to use, no copyright restrictions image - Picryl description
Fort Union Trading Post National Historic Site
Southwest Bastion and Main Gate Public domain photograph of a post office building, postal service, free to use, no copyright restrictions image - Picryl description
Fort Union Trading Post National Historic Site
Fort Interior Public domain photograph by National Parks Administration, nature conservation, tourism, free to use, no copyright restrictions image - Picryl description
Public domain images of wildlife: Moose bulls
Two moose bulls in the snowy Missouri River bottoms in front of Fort Union Trading Post.
Frost along the river trail - Public Domain image, National Parks Gall...
In the early morning, frost covers the trees and brush edging the river trail. The Missouri River can be reached by walking around the bend between the two groves of trees.
Fort Union Trading Post National Historic Site
Bourgeois House and Visitor Center Public domain photograph of a post office building, postal service, free to use, no copyright restrictions image - Picryl description
Fort Union Trading Post National Historic Site
Southwest Bastion Public domain photograph of a post office building, postal service, free to use, no copyright restrictions image - Picryl description
Two tussling moose - National Parks Gallery
Two facing moose bulls prepare to lock antlers. They're facing off on the snow-covered, sandy bottom land between Fort Union and the Missouri River's current channel.
The stare down - National Parks Gallery
A large-antlered bull moose stares down the camera. The bull stands in the Missouri River's former channel in front of Fort Union Trading Post National Historic Site's front gate.
Fort Union Trading Post National Historic Site
Tipis near the fort Public domain photograph by National Parks Administration, nature conservation, tourism, free to use, no copyright restrictions image - Picryl description
Fort Union Trading Post National Historic Site
Tipis near the fort Public domain photograph by National Parks Administration, nature conservation, tourism, free to use, no copyright restrictions image - Picryl description
Fort Union Trading Post National Historic Site
Main Gate, Indian Trade Houses, and Buffalo Robe Press Public domain photograph of a post office building, postal service, free to use, no copyright restrictions image - Picryl description
Fort Union Trading Post National Historic Site
Upper Missouri River Public domain photograph by National Parks Administration, nature conservation, tourism, free to use, no copyright restrictions image - Picryl description
Fort Union Trading Post National Historic Site
Fort Interior Public domain photograph by National Parks Administration, nature conservation, tourism, free to use, no copyright restrictions image - Picryl description
Fort Union Trading Post National Historic Site
Fort Interior Public domain photograph of a post office building, postal service, free to use, no copyright restrictions image - Picryl description
Fort Union Trading Post National Historic Site
Bourgeois House and Visitor Center Public domain photograph of a post office building, postal service, free to use, no copyright restrictions image - Picryl description
Fort Union Trading Post National Historic Site
Upper Missouri River Public domain photograph of river bank, water, free to use, no copyright restrictions image - Picryl description
Fort Union Trading Post National Historic Site
Upper Missouri River Public domain photograph by National Parks Administration, nature conservation, tourism, free to use, no copyright restrictions image - Picryl description
Fort Union Trading Post National Historic Site
Southwest Bastion Public domain photograph of a post office building, postal service, free to use, no copyright restrictions image - Picryl description
Fort Union Trading Post National Historic Site
Upper Missouri River Public domain photograph by National Parks Administration, nature conservation, tourism, free to use, no copyright restrictions image - Picryl description
Fort Union Trading Post National Historic Site
Blacksmith Shop Public domain photograph by National Parks Administration, nature conservation, tourism, free to use, no copyright restrictions image - Picryl description