Butte Michaud is located 12 miles north of Cooperstown close to the Griggs-Nelson County Line. The elevation is 1305 at the foot of the hill, and 1600 feet at the top. Because it is so easy to identify, Butte Michaud has always been helpful as a landmark, not only for the Indians, but for the early Hudson's Bay fur traders, and also for the explorers and military expeditions that passed through this area later.

Many a fierce Indian battle was fought on this hill, and in times of peace, it was a good place for a hunter to conceal himself for a "beautiful shoot" as the Indians were thought to say.

The Sheyenne River a short distance away provided its own harvest of fur-bearing animals, and Hudson's Bay Company maintained a large post there even after the first settlers arrived. A permanent Indian village was located across the river a mile north of the hill.

Many exploring and surveying expeditions noted this landmark, including the Nicollet -Fremont Expedition in 1839 and the Issaac J. Stevens railroad survey in 1853. Later the permanent military trail from Fort Ransom to Fort Totten followed the same route past Lake Jessie and Camp Atchison.

The early settlers found the Indians very friendly and some of the white children spent a good deal of time at the Indian camp.

At the present time ten towns in three counties can be seen from the top of Butte Michaud on a bright day. These are Cooperstown, Jessie, Binford and Sutton in Griggs County, Tolna, McVille, Aneta and Kloten in Nelson, and Sharon and Finley in Steele County.

*Butte Michaud Height Sheyenne River to NE 1305 feet

SE comer of Section 35 1449 feet. Top of butte just over 1600 feet.

Source: Griggs County History 1879 - 1976 Page 361