Get a taste of what life was like for the various individuals who served as North Dakota governor when you spend some time at the Former Governor's Mansion State Historical Site in Bismarck. This impressive mansion and museum was originally built back in 1884 as a private residence by Asa Fisher. It remained the governor's residence from 1893 until 1960. Those years are detailed through the use of vintage items, personal effects, exhibits, documents and photographs that all go to tell the story of what life was like for the man who had the responsibility of holding the highest political office in the state of North Dakota.
Curious minds deserve to be in a stimulating environment, and Bismarck's Gateway to Science Center is such a place. This is the type of venue that challenges you to go on a journey of discovery with the help of its many interactive and multimedia exhibits. Visitors of all ages are not only invited to learn, but to also reach out and touch, as the museum proudly touts itself as a major resource for hands-on science education.
Get a stunning picture of the incredible art scene when you buy a picture---or several of them–at Bismark's highly popular Five Nations Art Depot. This historic Burlington Northern Railroad Depot has been converted into an eye-popping collection of several different varieties of Native American arts and crafts. The works of more than 200 North Dakota American Indian artists are on display and available for sale, so the chances are better than good that you'll find something you'll want to bring home with you!
If you think that the concept of the cowboy was invented by John Wayne-types, Bismarck's North Dakota Cowboy Hall of Fame will challenge everything you think you know about cattle rustlers from the past. This attraction is an interpretive center for the history of Native Americans, and you will see the dramatic link between their culture to various “western” traditions like the rodeo, ranching, and the rustic “cowboy” lifestyle that owes much to the tribes that first inhabited the land.
The wide prairies, the rustic landscape and even the lives and culture of the Native Americans are all essential parts of North Dakota's vast history. Learn about it all when you plan a visit to the North Dakota Heritage Center in Bismarck. This impressive venue has the distinction of being the largest museum in the state. The wide variety of exhibits examines what life was like on the northern plains from prehistory all the way to the present day. It is a truly fascinating historical journey!
Learn about how the development of the American railroad system affected the history and progress of Bismarck and its surrounding areas when you experience the North Dakota State Railroad Museum. See various exhibits and attractions that tell the dramatic story of how this then-new method of transportation transformed the way people lived, communicated and did business. The story is vividly accentuated by an impressive collection of artifacts, machinery, pictures, and documents.