North Dakota
7 Timeless Towns In North Dakota
North Dakota, set on the American Plains and against the US border with Canada, conjures multiple images at once. It has welcomed strivers and romantics — not least. A young Theodore Roosevelt, whose North Dakota sojourn formed the foundation of his legend and legacy.
Admitted to the Union in 1889, following the US Civil War, the state’s original motto—”Liberty and Union, Now and Forever, One and Inseparable”—recalls a time of national division. That conflict gave way to a long-standing chapter of peace in the country, and today, North Dakota enjoys a reputation as a quiet, safe place to live and visit. As these timeless towns show, North Dakota, also known as the Peace Garden State, has certainly earned its name.
Bottineau
The north-central town of Bottineau, population 2,200, sits just below the Canadian border. Its French name reflects the one-time presence of French fur trappers and other traders, like its namesake, Pierre Bottineau. The town sits near the site of the International Peace Garden, a jointly-managed green space between Canada and the United States, offering attractions such as the Peace Chapel, the 9/11 Memorial, and the Conservatory featuring over 5,000 unique species of cacti and succulents.
Bottineau’s other standout draws include an unusual figure in its Plains landscape: Tommy Turtle, actually a 30-foot statue of a turtle riding a snowmobile, and meant to symbolize the nearby Turtle Mountains. Home to Dakota College home to some 1,100 students, Bottineau features an outsized menu of local dining options, from fine dining at Marie’s to the college-crowd favorite Denny’s Pizza. The award-winning Pride Dairy sells ice cream for sweets fans of all ages.
Mandan
Mandan, a much larger town of 24,600, sits across the Missouri River from Bismarck, North Dakota’s state capital, in the center of the state. Fort Abraham Lincoln State Park beckons the history buff with displays at its Visitor Center Museum that tells of North Dakota life from earlier times. Established in 1907, the park is North Dakota’s first and has provided recreation and education for more than a century so far.
Mandan calls itself the “spirit of the West” in North Dakota. For a touch of that culture, check out the town in July during its Mandan Rodeo Days, a western-themed series each Independence Day weekend with bronco riding, art exhibits, a fireworks celebration, and a road race. Running for over 140 years, the Rodeo Days events draw crowds and repeat visitors from all over.
Medora
Medora, a map-dot with about 160 souls, lies in North Dakota’s west and punches above its weight for small-town charms. Ringed by a picturesque half-canyon, the town provides a gateway to Theodore Roosevelt National Park and showcases the badlands that the future president fell in love with as a young man. Kids can channel Roosevelt’s cowboy habits with horseback riding or family camping inside the park.
Grown-up Western enthusiasts can get a one-of-a-kind stay at the Rough Riders Hotel, a luxury Western accommodation that bears the name of the military unit that Roosevelt later rode to fame and political prominence. For more family-friendly fun, the Medora Musical, billed as “The Greatest Show in the West,” offers a blend of country, pop, and other music styles for a memorable and musical western night out.
Rugby
Rugby, with 2,400 inhabitants, makes an unusual claim to fame. The north-central town says it is the geographic center of the North American continent. A stone monument marks the claimed spot downtown. For a look back in time, the town’s sprawling Prairie Village Museum provides information on early life in Rugby and historic North Dakota. The museum extends across more than 20 buildings and includes a school, a train depot, a jail, and even a log cabin dating from 1887.
Like its Canadian neighbor, Rugby welcomes tourists keen to see the aurora borealis—the phosphorescent northern lights that often play across the world’s northern skies at night. The Northern Lights Tower stands nearly 90 feet high and serves as a lookout point for the sky’s wild colors. An on-site interpretive center explains the phenomenon in detail.
Valley City
Valley City, actually a small town with a modest population of 6,600, lies west of Fargo, North Dakota’s largest city. The place is also home to Valley City State University, whose student body of 1,700 gives a substantial boost to the town’s economy and size. Calling itself the “City of Bridges,” the place celebrates its many railroad suspensions and other constructions that span the Sheyenne River as it makes its many loops through town. The Native American West comes alive here at Medicine Wheel Park, which features a solar clock and a dozen earthen burial mounds.
For more time on the water, locals and visitors gravitate to Lake Ashtabula, a favorite spot for swimming, boating, and some classic American food options nearby. The Valley City State Planetarium provides otherwordly views to the sky beyond, making a great indoor alternative if the weather spoils plans to visit the town’s bridges, waterways, or both.
Walhalla
Walhalla, an early settlement in what was then the Dakota Territory, has a petite population of 900 today. Set in the state’s northeast corner, just below the Canadian line, the town offers history and outdoor fun in equal abundance. The Gingras Trading Post, once a stop for trappers and their customers, has stood northeast of Walhalla since the 1840s and now exhibits the folkways of a bygone era.
The Pembina Gorge Recreation Area has wide-open spaces for hiking, cycling, and family outings. For wilderness, one can drive through the Rendezvous Region Scenic Backway, which holds fantastic views and scenes of North Dakota’s rugged natural essence. The culture you can taste is on tap at the Howatt Hangar, within the local Frost Fire Park, while the same location puts on a summer theater series, with productions like the classic musical “Fame” and other shows available recently. Walhalla’s small size does not prevent it from offering major attractions for locals and out-of-town tourists alike.
Williston
North of the Missouri River, Williston, with 27,700 people, offers a much larger slate of attractions to see and do. The northwestern town, well-known for its oil and gas activities, also promises fun for the outdoor sports fan, from golf and riverside walks to clay-pigeon shooting at the popular Painted Woods Sports Range. Clearly, Williston encourages a robust kind of active lifestyle.
For the culturally inclined, Williston made waves in a recent project that covered traffic signal cabinets with creative painting, thereby beautifying the town and its public spaces. Fans of Western movies, like the 2015 revenge thriller The Revenant, can retrace the steps of the real-life character Hugh Glass, who once worked as a hunter at nearby Fort Union. Today, the Fort Union Trading Post, a National Park Service site, tells of the days when the massive fort hosted a trade of 25,000 buffalo robes and early adventurers like Glass.
North Dakota’s Towns: Where History Meets Scenic Beauty
With all that these and other North Dakota towns hold out for the visitor, it may seem surprising that the state’s classic Western history and culture are not better known nationwide. Places like Bottineau and Williston speak to the old ways of fur trapping and trading. At the same time, modern cultural draws, like the stage productions at Medora and Walhalla, suggest an appetite for the lively arts and other creative expressions. No wonder the young Theodore Roosevelt came to love this state. North Dakota might be the next best place to explore for the traveler who seeks something timeless, fresh, and interesting.
Vernon Dale Krause, 93, of Fargo, ND, formerly of Wahpeton, ND, passed away peacefully on Friday, July 10, 2026, at Heather’s House in Fargo, ND, under the care of HIA Hospice.
A Celebration of life will be held on Monday, July 20, 2026, at Vertin-Munson Funeral Home, Wahpeton. Visitation will be from 9:30 a.m. to 10:00 a.m., followed by a service at 10:00 a.m., with burial immediately following at Fairview Cemetery in Wahpeton.
Vern was born on February 16, 1933, in rural Wyndmere, ND, one of eleven children born to Theodore and Ella (Rohl) Krause. He grew up in Wyndmere and attended Wyndmere Public School, where he left his studies behind to volunteer for the United States Army. Vern proudly served from 1953 to 1956 before transferring to the Army Reserves. He was awarded the National Defense Service Medal and, throughout his life, carried great pride in his years of military service.
He married Jean (Carey) Krause, and together they built a life and raised their family in Wahpeton, where he would spend most of his years. They were blessed with two children. In his later years, after developing severe dementia, Vernon moved to Fargo so he could receive the care he needed and be closer to family.
For 41 years, he worked for the City of Wahpeton Water & Sewer Department, where he was highly regarded and known for knowing every inch of the city like the back of his hand. Even after retirement, he continued to volunteer his time and expertise whenever the City needed him. Among the accomplishments he was most proud of were his early years helping develop the Chahinkapa Zoo.
Above all, he cherished his family. He loved anything to do with his grandchildren — from crafting chairs out of tree trunks and splitting wood, to watching their sporting events and helping them grow into who they were meant to be. His great-grandchildren were a true blessing to him — even if their energy made him a little nervous, he always looked forward to their visits. His nieces and nephews brought him great joy as well especially in his later years and he loved being an uncle to them. When his brother Leyone “Spud” moved to town, Vern couldn’t wait to deliver him the daily newspaper and share a chat. He loved tinkering in the garage, always engineering new ways to drain water, and he was the biggest Green Bay Packers fan around — proud to call himself a team shareholder. After moving to Fargo, Vernon was grateful for the time he was able to spend with his sister, Carole Jean, who had always been his protector.
Vernon will be remembered for his steady hands, his quiet devotion to family and community, and the example he set of showing up — for his country, for his city, and most of all, for the people he loved. He will be deeply missed.
Vern is survived by his son, Mark Krause, Fargo; two sisters-in-law, Priscilla Krause and Donna Krause; two brothers-in-law, Ron Carey and Don Carey; eight grandchildren, Carey, Danielle, Margo, Jodi, Nikki, Kevin, Brad and Tracee; 13 great-grandchildren; and many nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by his parents; his wife, Jean Krause; his daughter, Deb Christopher; five brothers, Alfred, Donald, Willard, Kenneth and Leyone Krause; five sisters, Dorothy Peterson, Loretta Dable, LaVelle Odegard, Lucille Kruchek and Carole Jean Johnson-Bohlken; sisters-in-law, Viola Krause, Marleen Krause, Amy Carey and Linda Carey; brothers-in-law, Elroy Odegard, Robert Johnson, Willis Bohlken, Pete Peterson, Johnny Kruchek and Frank Dable; granddaughter, Robyn Krause; and grandson, Jack Bollman.
GRAFTON, N.D. — Two North Dakota men are speaking out about a 38-year-long alleged mistake that altered their entire lives.
The men and their families are suing Unity Medical Center in Grafton, saying the hospital is responsible for
switching them at birth in 1988
. The hospital denies the allegations.
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There are moments that remind us exactly who we are as a community, and the recent fire at Antelope Creek Bar and Grill in Mooreton was one of them. Many already know the awful loss that unfolded. It was a brutally hot day, the kind where the sun feels heavy and the air is so thick, and social media quickly filled with photos, videos, and comments documenting the devastation. Heartbreaking. Gut‑wrenching. A place that held memories for so many suddenly only visions smoke and charred remains.
But even in the middle of all that loss, something else rose up, something that always seems to show itself around here when life gets hard. Kindness. Pure, steady kindness.
The volunteer firefighters were the first reminder. They never cease to amaze me. They drop everything … work, family, whatever they were in the middle of and suit up in layers of gear despite the heat and humidity. They’re regular people with regular jobs, yet they show up like it’s the most natural thing in the world. No spotlight. No applause. Just service. Just heart.
Then came the folks who arrived with water, Gatorade, and anything they could think of to help ease the burden of those battling the blaze. Nobody organized it. Nobody asked. They simply showed up because that’s what people do here. That alone would have been enough to warm my heart.
But it didn’t stop there.
As the day went on, I saw posts from other regional businesses, specifically other bar and grills, reaching out with messages of support. These are places that could easily be seen as competition, yet there they were, offering help, extending care, and standing shoulder to shoulder with the owners who had just watched their livelihood disappear. “We are here. How can we help?” they wrote. No rivalry. No hesitation. Just neighbors being neighbors.
If you ever need a reminder of what makes this valley special, it’s moments like that. People who could have stayed quiet choosing instead to lift someone else up. Businesses that could have focused on themselves choosing instead to stand with another in their darkest moment. It’s the best of us. The part of small town life that doesn’t make headlines but makes all the difference.
We talk a lot about community, but this, this right here is what it looks like. It looks like firefighters sweating through their gear on a 90‑degree day. It looks like strangers handing out cold drinks. It looks like business owners reaching across the aisle to say, “You’re not alone.” It looks like compassion showing up before anyone has time to think twice.
Loss has a way of revealing character. And what I saw in the wake of that fire was a valley full of people who still believe in showing up, still believe in helping, still believe in each other. In a world that can feel divided and loud, this quiet, steady goodness is worth noticing. Worth celebrating. Worth holding onto.
Because when the smoke clears and the debris settles, what remains is the strength of a community that refuses to let anyone face hardship alone. And that, more than anything, is the story worth telling.
That is the true Best of the Valley. The people.
Bobbi Steffens resides in the Southern Valley and discovered her passion for writing through an unexpected path.
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