George Bingenheimer

George Henry Bingenheimer (April 18, 1861 — December 24, 1920) was an early settler, drug store owner, and land developer for the city of Mandan, North Dakota. Active in local politics, he served as Morton County Treasurer (1882–1886), Sheriff (1889–1894), and as an Indian agent for Standing Rock from 1898–1903. Bingenheimer was an avid collector of Native American art and artifacts, and his extensive collection helped form the basis for the Smithsonian's National Museum of the American Indian.

Early life George Bingenheimer was born on April 18, 1861, in Frankfort, Minnesota. The Pioneer Publishing Co. was one of the first news companies established west of Missouri River.

Standing Rock George Bingenheimer took over Major Cramsie's position, as Indian agent at Standing Rock on March 11, 1898, and served there for the following five years. He served as an Indian Agent at Fort Yates in Standing Rock. George Bingenheimer later faced accusations of serving under the suspicion of revenue misappropriation, and ultimately left the Indian service because of so. Bingenheimer was also a huge collector of Native American artifacts and memorabilia and goods. He started growing his collection from the time he started working at Standing Rock until many years after. He donated and sold portions of his collections to the State Historical Society of North Dakota in 1906. George and Margaret left Mandan in 1916 to Miles City, Montana. One of his possible contributions is a carved, wooden bow, which is now at the Smithsonian National Museum of the American Indian.

Bingenheimer died in Minneapolis on December 24, 1920.

Other important contributions George Bingenheimer was also a Federal Marshal around the late 1890s. He was the builder of the Mandan Library and Mandan Hospital, which contributed greatly to the lives of the people living in the growing city. Bingenheimer sold a portion of his Plains Indian collection of art and artifacts to the North Dakota Museum, and the rest of his collection was acquired by the Smithsonian Institution.