Exploring Bismarck
I lived in Grand Forks, ND, for more than five years. I never ventured too far west. I never visited Bismarck during that time. In the past 13 months, Lisa and I have been to Bismarck twice. And we can’t wait to get back there a third time.
We spent a couple of days in the Bismarck area, taking in some history, nature and, as we like to do, the downtown area. We had a fun time.
Bismarck is 144 years old. The downtown area really took off in the early 1900s with the creation of the Chamber of Commerce. Some buildings date to 1900. The city has one true skyscraper – the state capitol building. So, most downtown building are a few floors tall.
An exception is the home of Peacock Alley. The upscale restaurant occupies the first floor of the old Patterson Hotel. The 150-room hotel stands 10 floors high. It was the tallest building in the city when it opened its doors in 1911. It was eclipsed when the state capitol opened in 1934.
The Patterson Hotel was THE place for celebrities and politicians during its heyday. Boxers Jack Dempsey and Gene Tunney stayed there. It hosted presidents, from Theodore Roosevelt to Lyndon Johnson. The hotel is now a senior apartment building.
Nearby is the Blarney Stone Irish Pub. The bar’s décor reflects an Irish pub. The food is excellent and you can order Irish meals, such as corned beef and cabbage or bangers and mash.
As we strolled through downtown Bismarck, we took in some nice views of the city’s architecture styles. The federal building offers a nondescript look. It conveys a message it was built for business.
The old depot has undergone renovation. It will reopen with new businesses planned. The exterior resembles a southwestern style.
I am a fan of reflections and one building obliged me with some fall color bouncing off its glass windows.
We visited some of downtown Bismarck’s retailers. One World Boutique has called Bismarck home for more than two decades. The home décor and fashion store offers an eclectic collection of items for the home. From glasses that proudly display North Dakota pride to stress balls and incense, One World offers a variety of opportunities for shoppers.
The downtown area is undergoing a transformation when it comes to public art. Electrical boxes display paintings, from ballerinas to a sunflower. It’s a clever project decorating something most people don’t give a second glance to.
An alley project kicked off over the summer and features the talents of a variety of area artists. Murals cover an alley way behind the Fireflour Pizza restaurant, next to a parking garage. In its first stage this year, the project features murals highlighting some of North Dakota’s successful high school graduates, Lakota Chief Sitting Bull and one featuring other famous North Dakotans, such as Lawrence Welk.
Bismarck has several opportunities to take in nature, from city parks to the Missouri River. We fell in love with a section of the Missouri River near the Port of Bismarck. The landscape and shoreline offer beautiful views. With the fall colors, the attraction is enhanced.
We walked along the trail that connects Keelboat and Steamboat Parks. Each park offers some beautiful sculptures, including an eagle sculpture and a Thunderbird sculpture. Both of these are among my all-time art favorites.
We visited one of the country’s best pumpkin patches, Papa’s Pumpkin Patch. It has been recognized annually as one of the best in the land by media outlets including USA Today and the Travel Channel. The pumpkin patch offers a variety of attractions and pumpkins at very reasonable rates.
Our visit allowed us a couple of chances to take in history. We were able to check off an item on our Lewis and Clark expedition bucket list with a visit to Fort Mandan and the Lewis and Clark Interpretive Center in Washburn, about 30 minutes north of Bismarck. Provitra terasų stiklinimo kaina
The Corps of Discovery spent its first winter of the two-year expedition (1804-06) at Fort Mandan. The expedition involved exploring the Missouri River area to the Pacific Ocean in an effort to help the young United States develop trade routes and relationships with Native American tribes.
The interpretive center has to be one of the best we’ve seen. The history of the expedition and its North Dakota period is presented well through the use of exhibits and displays. Lewis and Clark sent items they had collected along the way through their North Dakota winter stay to President Thomas Jefferson. Among the items sent to the president included a prairie dog and buffalo hide.
North Dakota’s history is told through some outstanding exhibits at the Heritage Center and State Museum. The museum uses five main galleries to showcase the state’s story, from the days the state was part of an ocean with giant seas creatures to Native Americans to pop culture. The galleries provide a lot of information presented in an entertaining and interesting manner.
One thing that stuck out to me was the fact that dinosaurs roamed the state. Triceratops and T-rex fossils are on display. A prehistoric bison (American buffalo) looked a bit different from today’s creature.
An antique car stands in the lobby area in front of the Inspiration Gallery. It was built by one person in the early 1900s..
During our stay, we used the Ramada Hotel as our base of operations. The hotel was busy during our visit, hosting a few groups. The hotel was centrally located for our trip.
We had a great time on our visit to Bismarck. There are still a few more area sites we would love to check out in the future. We highly recommend visiting North Dakota’s capital city for a few days of relaxation and tourism.
For more information on Bismarck and its area attractions, please visit www.ndtourism.com and www.discoverbismarckmandan.com.
Disclaimer: Thank you to North Dakota Tourism for the complimentary stay at the Ramada Hotel. However, all opinions and views are ours.
