Forty years after local settlers dismantled Fort Lincoln for wood and nails, the federal Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) came to restore that important piece of history. From 1934-38, the CCC built blockhouses and earthlodges, fieldstone buildings and palisades, and considered but did not rebuild the Custer House. In the 1950s, a local group of historians and businesspeople tried again, but failed. The idea didn't go away.
In 1982, in the old Lewis and Clark Hotel in Mandan, the Fort Abraham Lincoln Foundation was formed. Its mission was to promote and manage the reconstruction, development and promotion of Fort Abraham Lincoln and other state parks and historic sites in North Dakota. By 1989, they opened the doors to the reconstructed Custer House, with the uniformed 7th Cavalry troopers guiding visitors on a time-trip to 1875.
At 25 years of age, the foundation is a publicly supported, 501(c)(3) non-profit corporation qualified to receive tax-deductible contributions. After restoring the last home of George and Libbie Custer; the foundation rebuilt the Commissary, Granary, Central Barracks and Mess Hall, and a 7th Cavalry Stable. It also completely restored, six Mandan Indian earthlodges and part of the village palisade. The foundation filled the lodges with furnishings and displays related to the lifestyles of the Mandan Indians at On-a-Slant Village. A beautiful new cedar bridge was built, making the village handicapped accessible. Most recently, in June 2006, the foundation unveiled the new Mandan Wing in the park Visitor Center.
The foundation developed and continues to manage the region's finest living history interpretive program. Five Nations Arts, an outlet for American Indian artists to sell handcrafted artwork, and the excellent Commissary Bookstore are operated by the foundation as well. The foundation is currently raising funds to restore the officers’ quarters of Tom Custer. This officers quarters will not only display the life of a bachelor officer, but will house a state-of-the-art historical library and information center allowing visitors to research frontier military history and Native American history of the area with basic and technologically-advanced research methods. The officers quarters will also properly house the foundation's Interpretive Division. Continuing goals for restoration include an 1874 guardhouse, a new Military Wing in the Visitor Center, an archeological exhibit in one of the six earthlodges, and constantly making “history come to life” at Fort Abraham Lincoln State Park.
