When political power seeks to rewrite the past, George Orwell’s 1984 feels less like fiction and more like warning. In his second term, President Trump has sparked concern from historians and civil rights advocates alike for reshaping official narratives—scrubbing websites, altering curricula,[...]
Tag: History
Curio |
The Weekend of Lawrence Welk
It was a weekend steeped in bubbles, brass, and North Dakota pride. Lawrence Welk—once dismissed by some as kitsch—got his due in Bismarck with a packed documentary premiere, the unveiling of a bronze statue, and a full-on recreation of his TV show[...]
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North Dakota Historical Society works to fill military collection gaps ahead of new museum
A new military museum is coming to the Capitol grounds in Bismarck, and it’s all about North Dakota’s role in service at home and abroad. The North Dakota Military Gallery, expected to open in 2027, will display more of the state’s 10,000-item[...]
Curio |
HOLY COW! HISTORY: Why President Pierce Drank
Historians love ranking presidents. You’ve seen the lists. There are the Greats, the Near Greats, and the Mediocre. Then there are the Failures: Andrew Johnson, Herbert Hoover and the all-time worst president, James Buchanan. (When it comes to being lousy at the[...]
Curio |
On This Day | News of Custers Last Stand Traveled Slow
After all that has been written and argued and testified regarding the Little Big Horn, of interest to Dakotans because the 7th went over the bluffs from Fort Abraham Lincoln, and never came down, [...]Read More... from On This Day | News[...]
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Ellendale Opera House being renovated to its former glory
A century ago, the Ellendale Opera House rang with music, voices, and life. Then came quiet years—fires, fading plaster, and the slow erosion of purpose. But the story’s not over. Ellendale is breathing new life into its historic gem, restoring not just[...]
Curio |
HOLY COW! HISTORY: A Tale of Two Trains; When Friendship Rode the Rails
Eighty years ago this spring, Europe was finally quiet. Planes no longer dropped bombs, tanks sat stationary, rattling machine guns fell silent. After six bloody years, World War II was at last over on the continent. But peace alone didn’t mean a[...]
Curio |
‘Forget about annexation’: Moose Jaw hopes tariffs will lure Canadians and Americans
Moose Jaw has never been shy about welcoming visitors, and that hasn’t changed. The city’s famed underground tunnels—steeped in Prohibition-era lore and whispered tales of Al Capone—are leaning into their reputation as “The Friendly City.” Amid U.S. tariffs and shifting travel plans,[...]
Curio |
The Baldwin Ranches of Dickey County
The northern plains weren’t just plowed—they were planned, lived on, and studied with precision. Buried in the Baldwin Corporation records at NDSU’s archives is a rich, overlooked blueprint for sustainable farming, penned nearly a century ago. Orville Fuller’s 1924 thesis offers more[...]
Curio |
Holy Cow History: Who Blabbed to Ben Franklin?
Washington loves a leaker. An “unidentified source” who’s willing to spill the beans and dish on his boss or colleagues. Sometimes, the motivation is revenge, settling the score for an old wrong, be it real or imagined. Other leakers do so for[...]
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Recovering the Spirit of the High Plains
In 1889, five new states — North Dakota, South Dakota, Montana, Wyoming, and Idaho — stepped into the Union with constitutions shaped by shared values and bold civic ambition. In The Spirit of 1889, author Samuel Western argues that something essential from[...]
Curio |
HOLY COW! HISTORY: Politics Were Toxic Back In The Day. Deadlier, Too.
The one (and perhaps only) thing Americans seem to agree on these days is political rhetoric is too toxic. They long for folks to cool down and behave like dignified statesmen from that long-ago time before Twitter inflamed passions. Ah, the good[...]
Curio |
The Forgotten Battle Just A Few Miles South of Minot
In the summer of 1851, just south of present-day Minot, a little-known but significant battle took place between Métis buffalo hunters and Yanktonai Sioux warriors. Vastly outnumbered, the Métis held their ground for two days using defensive tactics and steady gunfire. The[...]
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On This Day | Berthold Reservation History
Chief Red Cow was the first chief of the Mandans. He was born near Fort Clark, near Washburn, in the year 1820, 107 years ago. He was chief of a tribe that numbered some [...]Read More... from On This Day | Berthold[...]
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Dust yourself off — The Gravel Road to a Good Life
Muriel Henrickson’s story is woven into the fabric of North Dakota’s Norwegian immigrant heritage, where hard work, faith, and quiet resilience shaped generations. In Dust Yourself Off — The Gravel Road to a Good Life_,_ her son, Tom Sandhei, traces her life[...]
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North Dakota town rallies to save historic Driscoll Memorial Hall
In small towns, community spaces aren’t just buildings—they’re where neighbors become friends, where stories are shared, and where history lives on. In Driscoll, that place is the old high school gym, now a gathering hall in need of serious repairs. Ashley Peyer[...]