Bismarck was founded by European-Americans in 1872 on the east bank of the Missouri River. It has been North Dakota’s capital city since 1889, when the state was created from the Dakota Territory and admitted to the Union.
We drove from Fargo to Bismarck, (196miles, 3 hour drive) stopping on the way in Jamestown to visit the National Buffalo Museum.
- Jamestown
- Bismarck Capital Building
- Sunflower Fields
Jamestown, National Buffalo Museum, – Approximately halfway between Bismarck and Fargo on Interstate 94, drivers can see the world’s largest concrete, bison from afar outside the National Buffalo Museum. This 26-foot tall, 60 ton concrete giant has been standing watch over Jamestown since 1959. Visitors learn everything about the great beasts that once roamed the American West within the National Buffalo Museum. The 6,000-square-foot facility has several exhibits regarding the near extinction of buffalo in the American West, and the efforts to reintroduce them into the landscape. The monument called the Dakota Thunder was created by sculptor Elmer Peterson.
Jamestown, Western Town – There is also a reconstruction of a western town with a room devoted to the writer Louis L’Amour. Louis Dearborn L’Amour was an American novelist and short story writer. His books consisted primarily of Western novels, though he called his work “frontier stories”.
Bismarck Capital Building – The capital building was constructed between 1932-1934. Due to financial constraints, architects settled for a skyscraper which has 21 floors. It is the tallest habitable building in the state. On a 160-acre campus that also houses many other government buildings, the capitol building and the surrounding office buildings house the state’s legislative and judicial branches, as well as many government agencies.
We went on a 45-min guided tour of the building.
You can go up to the 18th floor to get a 360 degree view of Bismarck. You can see the Missouri River from the top. The river flows directly through the city and can be seen from various vantage points in Bismarck.
Sunflower Fields – As you drive on the highway in North Dakota, you will pass by miles and miles of Sunflower fields. North Dakota is the #1 producer of sunflowers in USA.
