State Historical Society of North Dakota facts for kids
The State Historical Society of North Dakota is like a special team that helps keep North Dakota's history alive. They do this by taking care of museums and important old places across the state. They run the North Dakota Heritage Center in Bismarck, which is a big history museum. They also make sure North Dakota's historic spots are protected and share the state's story through cool exhibits and smaller museums. Plus, they look after the Former North Dakota Executive Mansion in Bismarck.
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How the Society Works
The State Historical Society is based in Bismarck. It has a main board that makes decisions and four different teams, called divisions, that each do a special job.
The State Historical Board
The State Historical Board is made up of twelve people. Seven of these members are chosen by the governor and serve for three years. As of August 2025, Matt Dunlevy is the board president, Amy Mossett is the vice president, and Lacey Anderson is the secretary.
Protecting Historic Places
The Historic Preservation Division works to protect North Dakota's old and important places. They create a plan for saving historic sites across the state. They also find, check, and suggest places to be added to lists like the State and National Register of Historic Places. This team helps people and groups take care of historic properties. They also check big projects that get government help to make sure they don't harm any historic sites.
Keeping Records Safe
The State Archives Division is like a giant library and storage place for North Dakota's history. It's the official place where the State Historical Society keeps all kinds of important documents and items. They collect and save research materials about North Dakota and the Northern Great Plains. This includes old letters, books, magazines, maps, newspapers, audio and video recordings, and photographs.
Museums and Learning
The Museum and Education Division helps people learn about North Dakota's past. They create exciting exhibits at the North Dakota Heritage Center and other museums, like the Pembina State Museum. They also have exhibits that travel around the state. This team helps other museums and people learn how to design exhibits and care for old items. They are in charge of keeping and showing off all the artifacts. This includes about 650,000 archaeological pieces and 43,000 historical, cultural, and natural history items.
Helping All Divisions
The Support Services Division makes sure everything runs smoothly for the entire agency. They help with things like managing money, buying supplies, hiring staff, and keeping track of items. They also handle communications and make sure everything is safe and secure.
North Dakota's Historic Sites
See also
- List of historical societies in North Dakota
