Project being planned to rejuvenate letters for Crying Hill

Feb. 27, 2025 – A group of residents interested in cleaning up and restoring Mandan’s Crying Hill have teamed up with City staff and leaders. This past fall, the City sought permission from Three Affiliated Tribes, the property owners for the land under “M,A,N,D” to clean up the area and work on restoring the letters. The City of Mandan owns the land under the last two letters “A, N”.

Mandan High School’s Four Directions group gave the effort a theme, “Honoring the past, Healing the future.” The hope is after the project is complete, for the high school group to bring the community out to Crying Hill to teach them about the history and significance of the location.

In September 2024, Doosan Bobcat volunteers removed volunteer trees and cleared brush around the letters.

Originally, the idea was to scrape and repaint the concrete letters this spring. However, once the letters were evaluated more closely, it was apparent that more work would need to be done. Three Affiliated Tribes has been informed of a potential restoration project and is in general agreement with the need to update the lettering.

A landscape architect has designed a concept for the project. The plan is for the design to incorporate lighting to illuminate the letters.

City leaders are seeking private funds for the project, estimated at $1.2 million.

The site has undergone changes since the original 300 ft. by 70 ft. sign was installed in June 1934. Mandan Historical Society has an extensive history of the hill available at mandanhistory.org.

Stay tuned to cityofmandan.com/news for updates.