Chateau de Mores State Historic Site
Medora, ND
The 26-room frame home of a French marquis who tried to build a meat-packing empire in the Badlands, preserved with period furnishings. Tours are seasonal; the hilltop site also gives a pleasant view over Medora and the Little Missouri valley.
The Chateau de Morès was built in 1883 by the French aristocrat Marquis de Morès as a hunting lodge and summer home for his family and guests: a two-story, wood-frame house with 26 rooms. The marquis planned to slaughter cattle locally, chill the meat and ship it east by rail. The venture failed in 1886 because of drought, competition from meatpackers back east and the marquis's lack of business experience; the family returned to Europe. They had used the house seasonally for only three years. In 1936 it was given to the state of North Dakota.
Today the State Historical Society of North Dakota operates the house as a museum. Visits are by guided tour. Allow about an hour, and check the season and tour times in advance, as they change.
- Nearest town
- Medora, ND
- Category
- History & culture
- GPS
- 46.9174, -103.5365
Hours, fees and access change. Confirm with the operator or park before you go.
Good to know
Best time to go
The most pleasant months are usually May–June and September. Still fine, with some compromises, in July–August and October. Cold, short days in December–March. (Estimate from long-term temperature averages, terrain and pass seasons)
Sources
Nearby
Campsites nearby
- Medora CampgroundCampsite0 mi from Chateau de Mores State Historic Site
- Medora City CampgroundCampsite0 mi from Chateau de Mores State Historic Site · 150 pitchesElectricityShowers
- Red Trail CampgroundCampsite1 mi from Chateau de Mores State Historic Site
- Rough Rider State Park CampgroundCampsite2 mi from Chateau de Mores State Historic Site · 48 pitchesShowers
- Cottonwood CampgroundCampsite2 mi from Chateau de Mores State Historic Site · 76 pitchesTentsCaravansElectricity
- Buffalo Gap CampgroundCampsite7 mi from Chateau de Mores State Historic SiteShowers
All campsites in North Dakota · Campsite data: © OpenStreetMap contributors, ODbL 1.0 · Updated October 3, 2026
FAQs
Where is Chateau de Mores State Historic Site?
Chateau de Mores State Historic Site is in Medora, ND, at GPS 46.9174, -103.5365. It is about 8 mi from Painted Canyon.
Can you camp near Chateau de Mores State Historic Site?
Yes. The nearest campsite listed in OpenStreetMap is Medora Campground, about 0 mi away; within 25 mi there are 12 campsites and motorhome stopovers.
What is there to see near Chateau de Mores State Historic Site?
Places worth a stop nearby: Medora (1 mi), Painted Canyon Overlook (8 mi), Enchanted Highway (46 mi) and Theodore Roosevelt National Park, North Unit (49 mi).
When is the best time to visit Chateau de Mores State Historic Site?
The most pleasant months are usually May–June and September. Still fine, with some compromises, in July–August and October. (Estimate from long-term temperature averages, terrain and pass seasons)