The woman in black Our creepiness rating 💀💀💀💀💀
In 2026 the Dickinson Press quoted Matt Schanandore, who said construction workers saw a ghostly figure during the 1989 reconstruction, that people have reported a woman in black at an upstairs window, and that footsteps are heard in the barracks and horse sounds in the stables. The park's Haunted Fort event, now in its 24th year, restages the window sighting. Source: Dickinson Press, 2026.
Facts below are drawn from the linked sources.
Real history
The post opposite Bismarck began as Fort McKeen in June 1872 and was renamed Fort Abraham Lincoln that November (Wikipedia). The Dickinson Press reports that the original Custer House was built in 1873, burned in the winter of 1874 and was rebuilt; the house visitors see today is a reconstruction from the late 1980s and early 1990s (Dickinson Press, 2026).
Ghost stories
These are reported legends, not verified events. The creepiness score (1–5) is Spook Atlas's own editorial rating, not a measurement.
The photo on the piano Our creepiness rating 💀💀💀💀💀
The Williston Graphic, citing North Dakota Tourism, recounts Dan Schelsky's story of a photo of Tom Custer flying off the piano and of a soldier in blue. Source: Williston Graphic, 2026; ND Tourism.
The Williston Graphic, citing North Dakota Tourism, recounts Dan Schelsky's story of a photo of Tom Custer flying off the piano and of a soldier in blue. Source: Williston Graphic, 2026; ND Tourism.
Then and now
Public access
Open to the public North Dakota Parks and Recreation lists Fort Abraham Lincoln State Park and its hours and fees (ND Parks and Recreation). Last checked: Nov 1, 2026.
Explore more
- More places in Mandan and North Dakota
- More haunted & abandoned houses
- More haunted & abandoned forts
- Nearby: Former Governors' Mansion (Bismarck, ND), Sims Scandinavian Lutheran Church (Sims, ND), Arena (Arena, ND), St. Joseph's Hospital (St. Joe's Plaza) (Dickinson, ND)
⚠️ Please read: This information may be outdated and conditions change. Verify access with the owner or operator before you go. Spook Atlas does not encourage trespassing. Entering private, closed or condemned property can be illegal and dangerous. Report a correction.
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