Chateau de Mores facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Chateau de Mores
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Chateau De Mores
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 Location in North Dakota
Location in the United States
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| Location | SW of Medora, North Dakota, US on west bank of Little Missouri River |
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| Nearest city | Medora |
| Area | 128.3 acres (51.9 ha) |
| Built | 1883 |
| NRHP reference No. | 75001299 |
| Added to NRHP | April 16, 1975 |
The Chateau de Mores is a special historic house in Medora, North Dakota, United States. A French nobleman named the Marquis de Mores built it in 1883. It was meant to be a fancy hunting lodge and a summer home for his family and their guests. Today, this beautiful home is part of the Chateau de Mores State Historic Site, which covers about 128 acres. The site also includes Chimney Park and de Mores Memorial Park, offering a glimpse into the past.
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A Bold Idea in the Badlands
The Marquis de Mores was a French nobleman and a businessman. He came to the Dakota badlands in 1883 with a big plan. He wanted to start a new kind of cattle business. His idea was to prepare cattle meat right there and then ship it east. He planned to use special refrigerated train cars.
He built a meat processing plant in a town he founded. He named the town Medora, after his wife, Medora Marie Von Hoffman. The Marquis also built many other buildings in Medora. These were for the people who worked for him. For example, he built St. Mary's Catholic Church.
For about three years, the small town was very busy. But by 1886, the Marquis's business faced many problems. There was a drought, which meant less grass for the cattle. Also, other meat companies in the east were very strong competitors. The Marquis also lacked experience in this type of business. Because of these challenges, his company closed down.
The Marquis and his family then went back to Europe. But they left behind a small town. It was filled with the exciting and romantic feeling of the American Old West.
The Family's Visits
The Marquis and his family only lived in the chateau for short periods. They stayed there seasonally for three years, from 1883 to 1886. During the cold winter months, they would travel to France. They would return to Medora again in the spring.
After 1886, the Marquis visited the chateau two more times. He came in 1887 and again in 1889. His wife, Medora, and their children visited only one more time. That was in 1903, after the Marquis had passed away. She stayed there for six weeks during that visit.
The Chateau Becomes a Museum
After the family stopped visiting, caretakers looked after the house. They would get the house ready each spring. But the family never returned to live there. In 1921, the Marquis's oldest son allowed the caretakers to use the chateau. They ran it as a place where people could pay to stay, like a guesthouse. During this time, the house suffered from things being stolen and not being properly cared for.
In 1936, the house and the land around it were given to the state of North Dakota. This gift came with a condition. The state had to take care of the chateau and open it to the public. The house was restored between 1937 and 1941. This work was done by the Civilian Conservation Corps, a group that helped people find jobs during that time. The chateau was restored again in 1995 to keep it in good condition.
Visiting the Chateau
Today, the Chateau de Mores is a museum. The State Historical Society of North Dakota manages it. You can visit the chateau and take guided tours. These tours help you learn all about the house and its history.
Inside, you can see reproduced carpets and wallpaper. There are also many real items that belonged to the family. You can see furniture from that time period too. One special exhibit tells the story of the Marquis de Mores, who built the house. Other exhibits change regularly. They show different art, culture, and history displays.
About the Building
The building itself is a two-story house. It has 26 rooms and is made of wood. Even though it's called a "chateau," it's not a true castle like those in Europe. Locals gave it the name "chateau."
Compared to the fancy homes of European nobles, it was quite simple. However, it was much more luxurious than most homes built by other settlers in Dakota. Many of those homes were made from sod (grass and dirt) or logs. The Chateau de Mores was a grand home for its time and place.
More to Explore
- Von Hoffman House, another historic place in Medora connected to the Marquis de Mores.
- Badlands
- Theodore Roosevelt National Park
