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North Dakota Heritage Center
The North Dakota Heritage Center
can be found on the North Dakota State Capitol grounds in Bismarck,
North Dakota that opened in 1967 by the Heritage Center Commission.
It is managed by the State Historical Society of North Dakota and
showcases many permanent and rotating exhibits. In 2008, this
fantastic museum became a hub of history when a very rare mummified
dinosaur was brought here. Permanents displays include The First
People exhibit that spans from 9000 BC. to 1738 AD., the Era of
Change which goes from 1738 to 1870, the Settlement Period from 1870
to 1915 and the Bright Dreams and Hard Times exhibit that goes from
1915 until 1941. The main gallery is the center of the State
Historical Society's exhibits program and has combined the
disciplines of history, archeology and paleontology. It explores the
state's history via 7 display areas that contain thousands of
artifacts and photographs that each have a marvelous and exciting
story to expound; and have created an environment that encourages
you to feel like you are traveling through time. At one point you
will look up at a huge mastodon skeleton, then further along sit in
a dwelling that is 2500 years old, or even smell a bison. The seven
display areas include the Corridor of Time, the First People, Era of
Change, Settlement Period, Bright Dreams and Hard Times, Birds of
North Dakota and Dakota kids. The Corridor of Time display has
two exhibits that show what the life was like in the state's region
millions of years ago; more specifically the late Cretaceous period,
which was around 65 million years ago and the early Paleocene period
that was only 60 million years ago. During the eon, the climate
resembled that of the Florida everglades, as well as the type of
environment. Paleontological displays here and at other society
sites were developed by the North Dakota Geological Survey (NDGS),
and the North Dakota State Fossil Collection and NDGS state
paleontologist are found here also. The First People display shows
how the archeological findings can document the presence of big game
hunting societies when the glaciers left and the following
settlements of farming, hunter and gatherers existed. Showcasing
relics from 10,000 BC. to the 18th century, a replication of the
oldest house ever excavated in the region from 550-410 BC.
The Era of Change entails the details of those early Euro-Americans
that came to this rugged territory in the 18th century, to explore,
trade, hunt and eventually, settle. When they got here, they found
that Native Americans lived here and called the great northern
plains their home; that included the Arikara, Dakota, Cheyenne,
Assiniboine, Mandan and Hidasta. Then in 1800, tribes of the
Chippewa came to the northern Red River Valley, with Crow, Blackfoot
and Cree coming to the western regions to hunt the buffalo herds.
During that 150 year period the Indian saw his population decline
with disease, loss of the great buffalo herds due to overkill, the
lands opened for settlement and finally their lifestyle moved onto
reservations. In the Settlement Era, we are shown how the influx and
settlement of the plains began in earnest after 1861, when the
territory was organized by the Congress, and the railroads
invigorated the people of the east into coming here for the expanses
of free open range. The first settlement boom occurred during the
time between 1879 and 1886, with another one coming after 1905. The
vast majority of these hardy folks were immigrant farmers, and by
1915, almost 80% were either immigrants themselves or children of
immigrants. The Bright Dreams and Hard Times exhibit tells of the
great depression that came here after 1930, and slowed down the
progress and encouraged change. With huge farming debts to pay and
low commodity prices, a series of farm foreclosures began which in
turn caused the failure of many banks. As if that wasn't enough, the
weather seemed to help the downturn and dust storms and weather
extremes caused the crops to fail, which just made the farming
families move away to where the jobs might be, and to be closer to
amenities which existed in the cities and finally made over 70% of
the people living here using public assistance. Then almost as
quickly as the depression rearranged the landscape of the rural
areas and the cities, the state began to flourish with the help of
public works programs like the WPA and CCC. The birds of North
Dakota showcases the importance of the bird population in the state
as a means for food, symbols and sights of pleasure. The state has
over 200 varieties that make the state their home, with millions
more coming here to stop and rest over on their migratory treks. The
Dakota kids display is about and for these pioneers of tomorrow;
with many toys and games from yesteryear as well as many other
hands-on activities and opportunities.
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