United States of America
North Dakota
Country
Continent
North America
Best Cities to Visit
- Fargo
- Bismarck
- Minot
- Williston
- Dickinson
Size
183,272 KM2
Population
762,000
Spending Budget
$1,000 - $2,000
Famous For
- North Dakota amazes with these agriculture, geography and attraction.
Best Time to Visit
- January
- May
- June
- July
- August
- September
- October
History
North Dakota was first settled by Native Americans several thousand years ago. ... Much of the area was first organized by the United States as part of the Minnesota Territory and then the Dakota Territory in the 19th century. North Dakota gained statehood in 1889.
Present Day
North Dakota is a U.S. state. North Dakota is located in the Upper Midwest region of the United States. It lies at the centre of the North American continent and borders Canada to the north. The geographic centre of North America is near the town of Rugby. Bismarck is the capital of North Dakota, and Fargo is the largest city. North Dakota was admitted to the Union on November 2, 1889, along with its neighbouring state, South Dakota. Its population as of 2019 stands at 7.62 lakhs. It is the nineteenth largest in area, the fourth smallest by population, and the fourth most sparsely populated of the 50 states.
Future
From our agriculture and energy industries to business-friendly communities and innovative entrepreneurs that drive economic diversity, North Dakota is set up for a bright future. Thus, it's a must-visit place and one where travellers must go!
Theodore Roosevelt National Park
Theodore Roosevelt referred to his time in North Dakota by saying, "Here the romance of my life began." One visit to Theodore Roosevelt National Park explains his love affair. Some 70,000 acres of painted canyons and grassy hiking trails border Interstate-94 and the Little Missouri River. Bison graze along the road, and prairie dogs chatter at scenic turnouts.
North Dakota Heritage Center
North Dakota’s past takes shape in Bismarck at the North Dakota Heritage Center, which nearly doubled in size after a $52 million makeover. Exhibits in the Treehouse cater to tykes.
Fort Union Trading Post National Historic Site
Now reconstructed, Fort Union was the most important fur-trading site on upper Missouri from 1828 to 1867. The imposing white house at Fort Union, where the head merchant lived, looks strangely grand against the landscape, like a suburban mansion built expressly to outshine its neighbors. That’s exactly what it was; traders built it in 1828 to impress area tribes. A self-guided tour, ranger-guided tours and living history programs are available for visitors.
Medora Musical
The colourful, two-hour Medora Musical raucously relives Teddy Roosevelt’s cowboy days. The outdoor show features singing, dancing, live animals and fireworks, all against a stunning badlands backdrop. You’ll come away tapping your toes and eager to check out nearby Theodore Roosevelt National Park.
North Dakota State Capitol Building and Grounds
Nicknamed The Skyscraper on the Prairie, North Dakota’s 1934-era capitol in Bismarck is the tallest structure in the area (at 241 feet). You can take a guided tour, including a visit to the 18th-floor observation deck, for free. Also on the grounds: an arboretum trail, prairie trail, and numerous statues and memorials, in addition to the North Dakota Heritage Center.
Maah Daah Hey Trail
Fun to say and fun to ride, the Maah Daah Hey Trail packs in a lot of dramatic scenery (and some really tough climbs!). The 98-mile main trail connects the southern and northern units of Theodore Roosevelt National Park, running through rolling prairie and rocky badlands home to mule deer, coyotes, golden eagles, bighorn sheep and bison. Loop trails and a new southern extension add another 80 miles to the trail system.
Scandinavian Heritage Park
In the small north-central city of Minot, the Scandinavian Heritage Park nods to northern Europe with a replica Stav church, Danish windmill, Finnish sauna and a 25-foot-tall Swedish Dala horse. Minot also is home to Norsk Hostfest, the continent’s largest Scandinavian festival, where high-quality handcrafted merchandise and travelling shows make for a one-of-a-kind experience each fall.
International Peace Garden
Trails and lush gardens along the U.S.-Canada border celebrate peace between the two nations. The 2,300-acre garden is half in the U.S. and half in Canada, about 110 miles northeast of Minot. In summer, the International Peace Garden gets big splashes of colour from perennials and annuals. For visitors year-round, an Interpretive Center offers a restaurant, gift shop and conservatory with 3,000 cacti. Guided tours of the gardens are available by reservation.
Chateau de Mores State Historic Site
A 26-room, 1883 hunting lodge built by the Marquis de Mores, an entrepreneurial French aristocrat who hoped to find his fortune in the Dakota Territory, overlooks Medora. His meatpacking business failed, but the town he named for his wife, Medora, prospered. The lavish home where he and his wife lived still contains many original furnishings. Eager docents stationed throughout Chateau de Mores State Historic Site offer insights and tours.
Knife River Indian Villages
Explore a reconstructed, furnished Hidatsa earth lodge, 15 miles of trails and a museum (22 miles west of Washburn). A rich culture thrived along the banks of the Missouri River in west-central North Dakota when Meriwether Lewis and William Clark arrived in 1804. Today, trails weave through the sage and wildflower-dappled prairie to the remains of villages, including one where Sakakawea lived before she joined Lewis and Clark.