History of Bismarck, North Dakota real impetus for growth. In 1883, Bismarck became the capital of the Dakota Territory and, in 1889, of the state of North Dakota. The first well-documented inhabitants of what is now Bismarck were the Mandan Nation. The remains of Chief Looking's Village, one of the Mandan towns, is now a park within the city limits, while another six to eight town sites, including On-a-Slant Village, Large-and-Scattered Village, and Double Ditch Village, made up the homeland of the Mandan Nation from about the mid-1500s to the late 1700s and surround present-day Bismarck for a few miles to the north and south.
USS North Dakota (BB-29) USS North Dakota (BB-29) USS "North Dakota" (BB-29) was a dreadnought battleship of the United States Navy, the second member of the , her only sister ship being . "North Dakota" was laid down at the Fore River Shipyard in December 1907, was launched in November 1908, and commissioned into the US Navy in April 1910. She was armed with a main battery of ten guns and was capable of a top speed of . "North Dakota" was the first vessel of the US Navy to be named after the 39th state. "North Dakota" had a peaceful career; she was