South of I-94, beginning at exit 72 lies the Enchanted Highway. At the end of the highway is a castle. And living in that castle is a man with a dream, a big dream, an enchanted dream. Sounds kind of like a fairy tale, doesn’t it? But the Enchanted Highway is no fairy tale. Instead, …
Fort Abraham Lincoln State Park
The last place Tom and I visited when we went to Bismarck a few weeks ago was Fort Abraham Lincoln State Park. Fort Abraham Lincoln is the oldest state park in North Dakota and one of the best, as far as we are concerned. Fort Abraham Lincoln State Park was established in 1907. Considering North …
Bucket, Barrel and Bellows at Fort Union
During his time here at Fort Union Trading Post, Tom has made a bucket, a barrel, and a bellows. These are all related to his demonstrations and the talks that go along with them, but building them has kept him busy all summer. Bucket, barrel and bellows Part 1: Ranger Karl knows how to make …
New Desk in the Visitors Center
About a month ago, we got a new desk in the Visitors Center. It happened about the same time we had to start wearing masks again indoors. And about the same time I started working in the Visitors Center more often. The new desk had been ordered in March. During the year that the Visitors …
Bismarck, Capital of North Dakota
After visiting Knife River Indian Villages, Tom and I headed to Bismarck, North Dakota. Bismarck is located smack in the middle of the state, which is a great place for a capital. It is the second largest city in North Dakota, with a metro population of 130,000. The capital building is the tallest building in …
Killdeer Mountain Battlefield State Historic Site
On our way to Knife River Indian Villages National Historic Site, Tom and I made a small detour to see Killdeer Mountain Battlefield State Historic Site. I had been wanting to see this place that precipitated the battles between the Army and the Sioux in Dakota territory. The most challenging part of visiting Killdeer Mountain …
Living History Weekend at Fort Union Trading Post
Over Labor Day weekend, Fort Union Trading Post hosted a Living History Weekend. Rendezvous in June is the biggest event of the year but Living History Weekend is a close second. It seems an appropriate bookend to our time at Fort Union Trading Post National Historic Site. We hurried to get out here in time …
Knife River Indian Villages National Historic Site
Last week I got my final National Park stamp in North Dakota when we visited Knife River Indian Villages National Historic Site. Of course, it helps that there are only three National Park sites in North Dakota, but it still felt good. Knife River Indian Villages National Historic Site is an interesting place located about …
Edwin Denig and the Clerk’s Office
Whenever I do my demonstration, I am stationed in the Clerk’s Office and get to tell the story of Edwin Denig. Edwin Denig and Rudolph Kurz are my two favorite historical people at Fort Union Trading Post National Historic Site. I love talking about them and am constantly trying to learn more about them. First, …
Scandinavian Heritage Park in Minot, North Dakota
Last month Tom and I visited the Scandinavian Heritage Park in Minot, North Dakota. We had to take the Prius in for its 15,000 mile service and chose a Toyota dealership in Minot for the service. We had previously taken it to Dickinson and were pleased with that place, but we wanted to check out …