History Department

Local Area

Our Local History Displays tell the story of Southwestern North Dakota, a small portion of South Dakota and of Montana, within a 100 mile radius of Bowman, North Dakota.

Our latest project is the reconstruction of a prairie sod house which began in the Spring of 2006. We endevored to remain as true to the period as possible by utilizing original equipment and tools whenever possible. View our Sod House Photo Gallery of the construction process. We will be adding more photos, so check back again.

Our Local History Displays Include:

Military History:

Uniforms, artifacts and text from: * Cavalry * Civil War * Spanish - American War * World War I * World War II * Korean War.

We have plans to include Viet Nam and Desert Storm as we enlarge the display area.

Ranch and Homestead Era:

Early cattle trails * Cattle ranches * Sheep ranches * Homesteading * Depicting early lifestyles with: clothing styles for men, women and children * Trailing cattle up the trails * Work activities * Equipment used with cattle and sheep * Materials homes were built out of * Furnishings of homes * Dolls and other toys * Hairstyling equipment * Ways of washing clothes * Medical and chiropractic equipment * Homestead farm equipment * Antique machinery sign * Antique machinery and tractors

One Room Schools:

One teacher taught all eight grades. Teacher also had to do all janitorial duties and probably walked several miles to get to school.

These schools were sod, log or wood frame, usually with only windows on the south side.

Churches:

Churches were usually one room with a small entry and were made of wood frame. The Church later moved to complex design. The first Lutheran church in Scranton, North Dakota was moved south of Scranton and became the Union Prairie Church; which has been donated to the Historical Society and moved onto the museum complex.

Transportation:

Types of transportation: walking * Riding horses * Wagons or buggies pulled by horses or oxen * Sleighs and bobsleds were used in the winter * Automobiles

Communications:

Word of mouth from travelers * Letters brought by pony express * Later by stage coaches to early postoffices * Linotypes for printing newspapers

Entertainment in Early Years:

Dances * Vaudeville shows * Card parties at neighbors homes * Church revivals * Phonograph music * Organ, piano and other instruments * Stereoscope pictures

History Resource