10 Museums In North Dakota That You Probably Don’t Know About
As the saying goes, ‘You learn something new every day’ — and we’re guessing you don’t know about these unique museums in North Dakota. From history museums to train museums, rock museums to cowboy museums, here are 10 unique museums in North Dakota that are as unique and interesting as The Peace Garden State.
During these uncertain times, please keep safety in mind and consider adding destinations to your bucket list to visit at a later date.
This railroad museum, featuring an expansive 3,000-square-foot railroad display is a must for locomotive lovers. The best part? Admission is free! Learn more about the North Dakota State Railroad Museum here.
Dickinson Museum Center is a 12 acre campus that may just be the best museum in the state. The center's Badlands Dinosaur Museum houses the largest collection of real dinosaur fossils on display in North Dakota, including a complete Triceratops skull, six full dinosaur skeletons, hundreds of fossils, a colorful mineral collection, and lots of opportunities for hands-on learning. Visitors can even watch paleontologists at work preparing fossils for research and display. Learn more about this must-visit museum here.
Ye haw! You'll learn all about Western history and culture at the North Dakota Cowboy Hall of Fame. This unique museum pays homage to culture of North Dakota’s Native American, ranching and rodeo communities through dynamic displays about the state’s rich and colorful western heritage.
"Home, home, on the range..." -- the National Buffalo Museum, home of the rare albino buffalo, White Cloud, is one of the most unique attractions in the state. This museum is all about preserving and educating the public about the bison, a beloved figure in the state's history.
For aviation fans, the Fargo Air Museum is a must. This premier flying museum displays many historic flyable airplanes, including a Wright Brothers' flyer. Learn more here.
This history museum displays antique tractors and vintage cars, along with antiques from North Dakota's pioneer days, with a focus on preserving the past, appreciating the present, and educating the future. Learn more at the Dale & Martha Hawk Museum website.
Well, this museum certainly wins the "best name" contest. Bonanzaville, USA is a 12-acre history museum complex in West Fargo, complete with an authentic pioneer village, 43 historic buildings, and thousands of artifacts.
This museum totally rocks (pun intended). The Paul Broste Rock Museum displays different types of rocks from all over the world, and has a really unique history. The museum was a brainchild of Paul Broste, a North Dakota farmer, artist, and rock collector. He began his rock collection at an early age and did much of it during the 1920's and 30's when few people were interested in purchasing rocks. He acquired rare and unique rock specimens from all over the world; out of this collection, came the eponymous Paul Broste Rock Museum.
Art museums might not immediately come to mind when thinking about North Dakota, but this state has a deep appreciation for the arts. Plains Art Museum is the largest art museum in North Dakota, and focuses on regional Native American, folk art, and contemporary art. Learn more here.
Pfennig Wildlife Museum features the largest individual wildlife collection in North Dakota, and includes approximately 175 animal specimens from all around the world. There's also a sizable taxidermy collection. Learn more about Pfennig Wildlife Museum here.
What other North Dakota museums are definitely worth visiting? Let us know in the comments below! And if you’re looking for more museums in North Dakota, here are some must-visit *free* museums to explore.
Address: North Dakota State Railroad Museum, 3102 37th St NW, Mandan, ND 58554, USA
Address: 188 Museum Dr E, Dickinson, ND 58601, USA
Address: 250 Main St, Medora, ND 58645, USA
Address: 500 17th St SE, Jamestown, ND 58401, USA
Address: 1609 19th Ave N, Fargo, ND 58102, USA
Address: 4839 78th St NE, Wolford, ND 58385, USA
Address: 1351 Main Ave W, West Fargo, ND 58078, USA
Address: Paul Broste Rock Museum, 508 Main St, Parshall, ND 58770, USA
Address: 704 1st Ave N, Fargo, ND 58102, USA
Address: 1313 ND-49, Beulah, ND 58523, USA
The OIYS Visitor Center
Best Museums in North Dakota
January 26, 2021
Sarah
Does North Dakota have any haunted museums?
Oh yeah — and it’s where you’d least expect. Despite being a warm and cozy place to entertain and educate kids, the Children’s Museum at Yunker Farm in Fargo, North Dakota has a dark side: it’s apparently as welcoming to ghosts, as it is to kids. Maybe it’s not so surprising the museum is regularly deemed one of the most haunted places in North Dakota – it was, after all, first built as a farmhouse in 1876. In later years, it was transformed to the children’s museum it is today, but apparently spirits from its past remain, including a child-loving former owner and a ghostly kid by a well.
What are some hidden gems in North Dakota?
There are a lot of hidden gems in North Dakota that not many people besides the locals know about. Perhaps our most favorite is the Roosevelt Inn, a hotel in Watford City, North Dakota, that has a pretty big draw: a larger-than-life stone bust of Theodore Roosevelt’s head! This huge statue originally came from a park just outside the iconic monument in South Dakota. It was transported all the way up north to its place now and most people don’t even know it’s there!
What are some fun day trips in North Dakota?
North Dakota is a traveler’s dream, with lots of fun day trips for the curious. The Edinburg General Store in Edinburg, North Dakota is a total relic from the past — it’s been open for decades, and is just plain fun to peruse. If it’s scenic views you’re after, the Caprock-Coulee trail in the North Unit of the Theodore Roosevelt National Park is an amazing natural wonder. Other than the unusual and fascinating “caprock” formations, this trail is simply stunning to behold. The trail also goes by some of the park’s famous prairie dog towns. Read more about this beautiful place here.
Address: North Dakota State Railroad Museum, 3102 37th St NW, Mandan, ND 58554, USA
Address: 188 Museum Dr E, Dickinson, ND 58601, USA
Address: 250 Main St, Medora, ND 58645, USA
Address: 500 17th St SE, Jamestown, ND 58401, USA
Address: 1609 19th Ave N, Fargo, ND 58102, USA
Address: 4839 78th St NE, Wolford, ND 58385, USA
Address: 1351 Main Ave W, West Fargo, ND 58078, USA
Address: Paul Broste Rock Museum, 508 Main St, Parshall, ND 58770, USA
Address: 704 1st Ave N, Fargo, ND 58102, USA
Address: 1313 ND-49, Beulah, ND 58523, USA
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Jennifer is the Alabama staff writer for Only In Your State and has nearly 15 years of professional writing experience. She enjoys discovering new places and currently calls North Alabama home.
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