Fort Dilts, Military fort and historic site in Rhame, North Dakota.

Fort Dilts is a historic site near Rhame preserving the remains of an original sod fortification with a circular layout measuring about 300 feet across. The grounds display visible wagon ruts, grave markers, and interpretive information that help visitors understand the physical layout and construction of the compound.

The fort was built by miners and soldiers in September 1864 during armed conflict with Hunkpapa Sioux warriors. This construction represents a critical moment in the history of American expansion and settlement in the northern Great Plains.

The fort's name honors Corporal Jefferson Dilts, one of eight soldiers killed during the September 1864 attacks. When the rescued party left, Minnesota volunteers who had lost relatives in the 1862 Sioux Uprising abandoned a wagon of poisoned food behind. Visitors today see wagon ruts and grave markers at the site.

The site is located about 8 miles northwest of Rhame and offers free access to visitors. Interpretive signs are positioned throughout to guide your understanding of the remains and their historical context.

The site's name honours Corporal Jefferson Dilts, one of eight soldiers killed out of a force of fifty; civilian deaths are also recorded. Lieutenant Smith and fifteen others slipped away to Fort Rice to summon help, and a rescue column of 850 men reached the defenders on September 20, 1864. A wagonload of poisoned food was left behind by Minnesota volunteers who had lost relatives in the Sioux Uprising.