135 years since the North Dakota Constitution was signed

BISMARCK, N.D. (KFYR) – This Saturday will mark 135 years since the North Dakota State Constitution was signed. The document still exists all these years later and resides in the state archives.

Sarah Walker from the State Archives is unshelving a piece of North Dakota history that has been a part of our state for 135 years, the State Constitution.

Walker said the Constitutional Convention which worked on this act met on July 4, 1889 and included the states of North Dakota, South Dakota, Washington and Montana. She said it was here that they were able to establish their own statehood.

“75 men went to discuss what the laws should be for all of the states as well,” said Sarah Walker, head of reference services, at ND State Archives.

Walker said the men who went to the convention had a parade down the streets of Bismarck going to the territorial capitol building. She said they went in and established everything that North Dakota would become. Walker said there were a few things that didn’t go quite according to plan, one is not setting up the way a presidential election is voted on.

“In 1892, right before the first presidential election that North Dakota would be involved in, they had to call a special session. The Governor spoke to the people who came and said “just to let you know, the North Dakotans want you to make this as short as possible,” said Walker.

Walker said the State Constitution established all of our laws. However, she said many have changed over the years as articles can be amended when the legislature meets every two years.

“Laws are added, changed, adjusted every session, so I don’t have an exact count,” said Walker.

Although this document still exists all these years later, the public can’t just come and page through it. Walker said they have digitized the State Constitution for the public to view. She said they do try to display it from time to time.

“We have it stored in a cool space; temperature controlled. We monitor for humidity, and it’s always being looked after by staff,” said Walker.

As far as how the archives will preserve this document for the next 135 years, Walker said they will continue to be cautious with it.

Walker said an interesting fact that many wouldn’t know about the State Constitution is it was actually in the State Capitol building when it caught on fire in 1930. She said it was saved by the Secretary of State at the time, Robert Burn.

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