| 1682 | La Salle, French explorer, by his ProcÈs Verbal claims part of North Dakota drained by Missouri River for France. |
| 1738 | Pierre de la Verendrye, first white man to enter North Dakota, visits Mandan Indians on Missouri. |
| 1742 | Verendrye's sons return to North Dakota while searching for a western sea near high mountains. |
| 1762 | France transfers land claimed by La Salle to Spain. |
| 1763 | By Treaty of Paris England obtains title to part of State drained by Mouse and Red Rivers. |
| 1768 | Jonathan Carver explores Northwest through the Red River Valley for Provincial Government. |
| 1797 | David Thompson, English geographer, explores and maps Mouse and Missouri River basins. |
| Charles Chaboillez of the North West Company establishes first trading post in State at Pembina. |
| 1800 | Spain cedes American possessions back to France after adjustment of territorial holdings. |
| Alexander Henry, Jr., opens fur-trading post at Park River. |
| 1801 | Alexander Henry, Jr., moves post to Pembina. |
| 1802 | March 12, first non-Indian child in State, a girl, born to Pierre Bonza and wife, Negroes, at Henry's post at Pembina. |
| Charles le Raye explores western North Dakota while captive of BrulÉ Sioux. |
| 1803 | Louisiana Purchase makes southwestern North Dakota part of United States. |
| 1804-5 | Lewis and Clark, accompanied by Sakakawea, cross North Dakota on journey to Pacific. |
| 1807 | In May, Manuel Lisa sets out from St. Louis in search of suitable sites for trading posts along the Missouri River. |
| December 29, first white child in State born at Pembina. |
| 1811 | John Bradbury and Thomas Nuttall, English botanists, join Astoria Overland Expedition up Missouri and Yellowstone Rivers to Oregon. |
| 1812 | Selkirk colonists come to Pembina to make first attempt at permanent white settlement in State. |
| 1818 | Father Dumoulin and Father Provencher open first church in State, a Roman Catholic mission at Pembina. |
| First school, taught by William Edge, begun in connection with this mission. |
| United States acquires eastern North Dakota by treaty with England. |
| 1820 | Grasshopper plague destroys Red River Valley crops. |
| 1822 | Gen. W. H. Ashley and other explorers establish fur-trading posts in Missouri Valley. |
| 1823 | Gen. Stephen H. Long survey expedition designates official boundary between United States and Canada at point north of Pembina. |
| Selkirk colonists evacuate Pembina and move to Canadian soil. |
| 1825 | Gen. Henry Atkinson and Gen. Henry Leavenworth come up Missouri to make treaties with Arikara and other Indians. |
| 1828 | American Fur Company builds Fort Union at mouth of Yellowstone. |
| 1831 | Fort Clark built on Missouri by American Fur Company. |
| 1832 | Yellowstone, first steamboat to navigate Missouri in North Dakota, makes voyage to Fort Union. |
| George Catlin, artist and explorer, visits Mandan Indians. |
| 1833 | Maximilian, Prince of Wied, conducts scientific expedition up Missouri River. |
| 1837 | Smallpox epidemic nearly annihilates Mandan Indian tribe. |
| 1839 | John C. Fremont and Jean N. Nicollet lead first exploration through central North Dakota. |
| Father Pierre Jean De Smet begins missionary work among North Dakota Indians, and persuades Sioux, particularly Hunkpapas, to participate in peace councils. |
| 1842 | Joseph Rolette opens American Fur Company post at Pembina. |
| 1843 | Rival post built at Pembina by Norman Kittson. |
| John James Audubon, naturalist, studies animal life in present North Dakota. |
| 1845 | Bartholomew Berthold, representing American Fur Company, founds post named for himself on Missouri River. |
| 1848 | Father George Belcourt opens mission fields in Pembina, Walhalla, and Turtle Mountains. |
| Rev. Alonzo Barnard and James Tanner conduct first Protestant church service in State at Pembina. |
| First printing press brought into North Dakota by Barnard. |
| 1851 | First North Dakota post office established at Pembina with Norman Kittson postmaster. |
| Charles Cavileer brings settlers to Pembina from Minnesota to form first permanent white agricultural colony in State. |
| First flour mill in State constructed at Walhalla by Father Belcourt. |
| 1853 | Stevens survey sponsored by Federal Government to find most advantageous route for railway to Pacific. |
| 1857 | Fort Abercrombie, first military post in North Dakota, established on Red River. |
| 1859 | January 5, Anson Northrup, first steamboat on Red River, starts trip from Fort Abercrombie to Winnipeg. |
| 1860 | Regular steamboat transportation on upper Missouri begins. |
| 1861 | Dakota Territory is officially organized. |
| President Lincoln appoints William Jayne first Governor of Dakota Territory. |
| 1862 | First Territorial legislature meets in Yankton. |
| Refugees from Minnesota Massacre flee to Fort Abercrombie. Little Crow and followers seek refuge with Sioux near Devils Lake. |
| Capt. James L. Fisk guides parties across North Dakota to Montana gold fields. |
| 1863 | January 1, Dakota Territory opened for homesteading. |
| Gen. Henry H. Sibley and Gen. Alfred H. Sully, sent out to punish Sioux who participated in Minnesota Massacre, conduct extensive campaign through North Dakota. |
| 1864 | In July, first North Dakota newspaper, the Frontier Scout, issued at Fort Union. |
| General Sully supervises building of Fort Rice. |
| Immigrant party under Capt. James L. Fisk, besieged by Sioux, builds Fort Dilts. |
| 1866 | Fort Buford established opposite mouth of Yellowstone. |
| 1867 | Fort Ransom, second of chain of forts for protection of immigrants crossing the prairies, established on Sheyenne River by Gen. A. H. Terry. |
| Forts Stevenson and Totten, and Fort Totten Reservation established. |
| Treaty with Sisseton and Wahpeton Sioux cedes United States rights to build roads and railroads across Indian lands. |
| 1868 | Sioux, influenced by Father De Smet, join peace council at Fort Rice. |
| Laramie treaty defines reservation boundaries for Sioux, including Standing Rock Reservation. |
| Joseph Rolette makes first North Dakota homestead entry, filing on land in northwest part of Red River Valley. |
| 1870 | Fort Berthold Indian Reservation boundaries defined. |
| Treaty between Chippewa, Sioux, and whites at Fort Abercrombie brings about permanent peace in eastern area. |
| 1871 | Northern Pacific Railway reaches Fargo. | BARNES COUNTY COURTHOUSE, VALLEY CITYPhoto by R. Kenneth McFarland
CAMP GATHERING, FORT YATES AGENCY
Photo by Frank Fiske
SIOUX TIPIS
Photo by Frank Fiske
SIOUX HOOP DANCE
Photo by Russell Reid
MAGPIE ROCK, KILLDEER MOUNTAINS
Photo by Russell Reid
