**June 2025: Thursday Morning**…read more This Heritage Center & State Museum is really impressive, especially since admission was free! It's located right next to the State Capitol and was certainly a highlight for my Bismarck trip. There's free parking and the entrance has a nice glass entry way. When my friend and I checked in to grab a map we were met by several very sweet and welcoming women. There were four exhibit areas to explore but the dinosaur exhibit was by far my favorite. They had several lifesize bone displays and informative posters. Another area was focused on the Native Americans culture and customs and the last one shared North Dakota's agriculture history and the people who make up North Dakota. I forgot what the third installation was about. Nevertheless, I think you could probably spend at least 3 hours in this museum if you wanted to read everything in depth. I learned a lot from this experience, and if my adventures take me back to Bismarck I'd be open to come back to see what the next rotating exhibit is all about.

The North Dakota Heritage Center is a must-do whether you're a visitor or a local. We're nicely…read morewelcomed by the volunteer manning the front desk and she explained the layout of the Center for us. It's very well laid out with great displays and write ups that take you through the history of North Dakota and explains what life was like throughout the many years. We spent well over an hour there.

This is a hidden North Dakota gem! I spent two hours here, by myself, just exploring and learning!…read moreThis place is only open from Memorial Day to Labor Day and from 1PM-5PM everyday. It's 100% free to enter and explore! It is half inside and half outside, so you should go on a beautiful day, like I did. You are allowed to go through some of the railroad cars and explore the many railroad tracks around. You get to cross a little walking bridge over some water as their is a lake/pond/marsh right in the area. I am so glad I came before Labor Day, this is truly a fun place to explore and become more knowledgeable about the history of North Dakota railroads! I will definitely be back! I am already telling everyone in my circle to go check it out. Hope y'all like the photos!

A railroad enthusiast's paradise! Tucked away in an industrial area in Mandan, this museum is a…read morenice detour from the traditional tourist sites. What's even better? It's open until 5, and it's free (donations gladly accepted). There are rooms full of North Dakota railroad history and artifacts, and the staff is more than happy to walk with you and give you a more detailed understanding of what you're seeing. There are also retired cabooses that you can walk inside and check out. One of the rooms hosts a model train that runs. The museum hosts train rides for kids 3 days a year: Father's Day, watermelon day, and late August. It is rumored that more than 300 locals attend! And who can resist some train knick knacks? All decently priced, too! The area is very pretty and quiet. Definitely visit this North Dakota gem!

About halfway between Minot and Bismarck, this is a great stop to gather some history, stretch and…read morerelieve yourself. The parking lot is huge & people often pull in for a nap while driving. While the center closes at night, the restrooms remain open and there's a ton of tourists info available on stands.

This along with, a little further down the road, the full scale reproduction of the fort were…read morewonderful. The guide at the fort clearly knows her history and definitely enjoys talking to people about the expedition. This center is very clearly organized with different facets/time periods in separated rooms. Each room is loaded with information and in some cases has recordings and manipulatives.

We visited the North Dakota State Capitol on a holiday weekend with our dog and enjoyed walking…read morearound the capitol building and on the trails around it. The grass and buildings are very green and well kept. There are several different statues that share about the history of North Dakota that are fun to explore and learn more about. We stopped at several of them. You can also join a tour if you would like to explore the capital more. We didn't since we had our dog with us, although sat on the steps of the capitol building and enjoyed the view!

The North Dakota Capitol was a bit more minimalistic than most. Not much to see, but a good…read morereminder that every state has its own style.

We were pleasantly surprised by all the activities. Plenty to keep kids and adults occupied. They…read morehave brain teaser puzzles, interactive farming game that covers all four different soil zones in ND, medical area with heart and interactive laparoscopic, build a car racing area, papers plane and paper rocket launchers, and many more. We spent 3.5 hours here. Worth the visit.

It was fantastic! Kids absolutely loved it! Spent a half day there! Great memories to make with the…read morekids! So many things to do!

As an Indigenous person to this area, I have to give this place 5 stars! First, Jeff the State…read moreRanger, was amazing! He was so culturally appropriate, correct, and sensitive (when need be) so HUGE kudos goes to him making this tour excellent! Second, Fort Mandan is super child friendly; they have a loads of interactive/hands on items to learn from. Third, Fort Mandan have super clean, nice smelling restrooms. Fourth, Fort Mandan has a quaint gift shop with some nice/educational items. Lastly, the replica Fort Mandan is amazing, so historically accurate and beautifully built. I am so impressed with the State of North Dakota for investing in something so educational and Native friendly as this! This place, no doubt, as my Indigenous blessing. You will learn so much about Lewis and Clark as well as the rest of the members of the expedition. I was particularly impressed with the representation of Sakakawea as not a guide, but as an interpreter (and as Native people see her, truly as an ambassador and helper). This place is not open year round, only from like March to October so make sure you make time to see this site!

Great replica of Louis and Clark's winter quarters. There was also a smaller interpretative center…read morebefore you got to the fort which was interesting and had a whole special section for kids. If you are a fan of history in general or Lewis and Clark in particular, this fort will be of special interest to you.

This is a wonderful place to visit some history! It is totally free to view everything; donations…read moreare welcome! The mansion was constructed in 1884 and was not originally built for the governors of North Dakota, but rather as a private resident. The mansion was the North Dakota governors' residence from 1893 to 1960, which is pretty sweet! They are very open to photography, so snap away! The mansion gets decorated for different seasons and holidays, which I can't wait to come back for the holiday season! Lastly, there is a lot for children to do here, they have historic games that you can do with your children on the lawn and a scavenger hunt! It is 100% a self-guided tour, however a site supervisor is always around and is happy to answer questions! I asked her about any paranormal activity that the mansion has had and she did have a few stories for me; pretty cool, a haunting presence somewhere in the heart of Bismarck, North Dakota! I was treated so well and the site supervisor was super welcoming! There is two floors, both open to the public (every bedroom and room is open). The upstairs is not handicap accessible, because you have to climb stairs. Additionally, there is a "Carriage House" which is basically the garage that has been converted into a museum full of historical artifacts! You could spend approximately 1-2 hours here and get the feel of the whole place. The North Dakota State Historical Society clearly did a lot of research and beautiful restoration to this place. I will no doubt be back and I am so thankful that I stopped on by on a beautiful August day! I hope you enjoy the pictures I captured!

Camp Hancock is located in downtown Bismarck right by the train tracks. It is a very cute,…read morewell-kept area with some pretty interesting history. Overall, it is very centered around the Episcopal Church that still sits there. This is not the most exciting historic site in the area, however it is still a good place to check out. The inside of the main building is only open from Memorial Day to Labor Day.