7 Places that Celebrate Our Nation's Presidents in North Dakota
In 1889, President Benjamin Harrison welcomed North Dakota into the Union. Many other Commanders in Chief have left their marks on the state, figuratively and literally. Here are several ways to see how the leaders of the free world impacted North Dakota.
1. Celebrate Theodore Roosevelt
We have some very iconic locations commemorating Theodore Roosevelt, who was a champion of conservation. Theodore Roosevelt National Park is open all year. Drive through and share Roosevelt's vision for the conservancy of North Dakota's Badlands. You can also learn about our nation's 26th president at the new Theodore Roosevelt Digital Library in Dickinson. Here you can read about Teddy's passion for the West, as well as his road to the presidency. Click here for more on Theodore Roosevelt in North Dakota.
2. Abraham Lincoln is honored here
President Abraham Lincoln appointed the first two governors of Dakota Territory. On Nov. 19, 1872, Fort McKeen south of Mandan was renamed Fort Abraham Lincoln in honor of the late President. See how the 7th Cavalry lived before leaving for the Little Bighorn. A second Fort Lincoln was built in Bismarck in 1903 and used for training. It was an internment camp during World War II and is now the United Tribes Technical College campus.
3. If not for Thomas Jefferson
North Dakota's legends Lewis and Clark may not have stepped foot in the state and Sakakawea may not have become a legendary figure in the West without our third President. Thomas Jefferson commissioned the Corps of Discovery to explore the northwest from St. Louis to the Pacific Ocean. Today, the Lewis and Clark Interpretive Center and Fort Mandan in Washburn tell the great story.
4. In honor of Ronald Reagan
President Ronald Reagan implored the Soviet leadership to "tear down" the Berlin Wall. The so-called "Cold War" came to an end with the dissolution of the Soviet Union, but some weaponry that kept the superpowers in check can be toured. The Ronald Reagan Minuteman Missile Site near Cooperstown allows visitors underground to the launch chamber of the nuclear deterrent.
5. Herbert C. Hoover congratulates the International Peace Garden
While President Herbert Hoover wasn't in North Dakota for the dedication of the International Peace Garden in 1932, he sent a message to those gathered: "I EXTEND to your Association and to the citizens of Canada and the United States gathered to dedicate the International Peace Garden my hearty congratulations on this beautiful embodiment of your ideals." Today, the Peace Garden continues to symbolize peace between neighbors and welcome visitors year-round.
6. Lyndon Johnson, Calvin Coolidge and John F. Kennedy were here
The Patterson Hotel in Bismarck was once a prominent and luxurious hotel and home to the Non Partisan League. The hotel was a hotspot for politicians throughout its history. Lyndon Johnson, Calvin Coolidge and John F. Kennedy stayed there. The lobby now houses Peacock Alley American Grill and Bar and continues to be a historic location rooted in tradition. Dine at the Peacock, and you just might find a piece of history from one of these presidential guests.
7. George W. Bush is a permanent part of the Walk of Fame in Fargo
In the political world, President George Bush had his hands in everything from 1989 and 2009, including the Fargo Walk of Fame. Prints from George W. Bush are enshrined along with many other celebrities that have visited the city. Check it out at the Fargo-Moorhead CVB.
