Taking a Look At North Dakota

Theodore Roosevelt National Park is located in western North Dakota at the point where the Great Plains meet the rugged Badlands. There are canyons, mountains, Badlands, and the Missouri River. The two main sections of the park are about 50 miles apart with the 26th U.S. President Theodore Roosevelt's Elkhorn Ranch between them. You can see the place where the ranch once stood but not much remains today.

The southern end of the park is popular among visitors because of the city of Medora. Medora maintains the quaintness of the "old days" and gets thousands of visitors each year. The downtown area offers shopping, eating, touring, and stagecoach rides, It is also home to the Medora Musical, a musical revue produced every summer, and the world-famous Bully Pulpit Golf Course.

In the park, you can enjoy camping, biking, rock climbing, horseback riding, and even driving through it to get a better look at it, When it is peak season you can get guided tours from park rangers.

The Chateau de Mores is a historic home in Medora built by Marquis de Mores. It was built in 1881 as a summer home and hunting lodge. There is a permanent exhibit called Rails, Ranching, and Riches that tells the story of de Mores and his family. Visitors can tour the house with 26 rooms and original artifacts. You can also see the original stagecoach from the family's company.

Bison Monument and Frontier Village is located between Fargo and Bismark. You can see bison grazing nearby and keep an eye out for the rare albino bison. You can explore The National Buffalo Museum where you'll learn about these magnificent animals and how the Plains Indians lived with them.

The National Buffalo Museum located in Jamestown is dedicated to preserving the culture and history of the North American Bison and Native Americans. It features exhibits related to the art and artifacts of Native Americans. There is artwork depicting bison like the original Thundering Herd oil painting, Visitors can also see the museum's live buffalo herd with 27 to 30 buffalo.

The Frontier Village has old pioneer buildings depicting pioneer life. Among them are an old-time barbershop, drugstore, church, jailhouse, post office, and schoolhouse as well as others, They were brought together to this spot from all over the state, You can shop for handmade crafts created by local artists, During the summer on Saturday afternoons you can see Wild West shootouts.

Three Tribes Museum is an unusual museum that was created by the Mandan, Hidatsa, and Ankara tribes near the Berthold Reservation.

Nearby is the Four Bears Bridge which is the longest bridge in the state. It is named for tribal leaders from these three tribes. The bridge stretches across the Missouri River. It is covered by medallions from the three tribes living on the reservation.

Scandinavian Heritage Park is a park in Minot, dedicated to the history and culture of Sweden, Norway, Finland, Denmark, and Iceland. The best way to begin is by stopping at the Scandinavian Heritage Center which includes tourist information and a gift shop. There are displays with items from each country and memorials to Scandinavian ancestors.

Fort Union Trading Post is a National Historic Site in Williston on the Missouri River. It is home to a historic trading and military post. It was central to the fur trade and other useful items from Montana and nearby states when Native Americans visited. The fort has been reconstructed and looks like it did in 1851.

The International Peace Garden is a park sitting on the international border of the state of North Dakota in the U.S. and the province of Manitoba in Canada. The park has both wild and manicured gardens, The centerpiece is a cairn that is built from fieldstones and sits exactly on the 49th parallel, denoting the border of the two countries, The park has hiking and biking trails, a peace chapel, a restaurant, gift shop, floral clock, and a memorial to the 9-11 terrorist attacks.

Fort Mandan Overlook offers the scenery that famous explorers Lewis and Clark once looked upon. They established winter headquarters here from 1804 to 1805. At this time Fort Mandan was a cultural exchange location between the explorers, other explorers, and the Native Americans in the region. Fort Mandan has become one of the top attractions in North Dakota.

Ten miles from the overlook you can see a modern reconstruction of Fort Mandan. There is an interpretive center taking you back in history.

Knife River Indian Villages National Historic Site lets visitors discover the culture, history, and lifestyle of the people who first settled the land. The museum explores the history of the Hidatsa people, a locale North Dakota tribe. You can see reconstructed earth lodges, villages, and gardens.

Hiking trails take you into the surrounding area offering great views of the land all around and the Missouri River. Fishermen can enjoy fishing in the Knife and Missouri Rivers.

Lake Sakakawea State Park is a popular destination where visitors can camp, fish, hike, and enjoy other outdoor activities. It is also popular for sailboating and windsurfing.

Lake Sakakawea is the third-largest manmade reservoir in the US. The state park is also part of the North Country National Scenic Trail crossing seven states from North Dakota to New York.

Enchanted Highway includes metal sculptures and unique roadside artwork.

Among the highlights:

Giant sculpture of geese in flight

Deer crossing a fence

Towering grasshoppers

Pheasants lined up across the prairie

Construction on the road began in 1989 when local artist Gary Greff came up with a roadway lined by sculptures. At the time he created eight sculptures.

Enchanted Castle opened in 2012. It is a hotel located in Regent, North Dakota which continues the the of local art and abstract sculptures.