The public is invited to kick off rendezvous week with the State Historical Society of North Dakota Saturday and Sunday, June 21 and 22, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at state historic sites near Walhalla. The event is free, and all ages are welcome.
The Gingras Trading Post State Historic Site, located just 1.5 miles northeast of Walhalla, features the historic Gingras home and trading post. These are two of the oldest standing structures in the state. Built by prominent fur trader Antoine Blanc Gingras, these buildings offer a rare glimpse into Métis architecture and life along the northern frontier.
The Gingras open house features free guided tours and hands-on history experiences:
• Saturday, June 21–Step into the role of early hunters and try your hand at an atlatl, a prehistoric spear-throwing tool, aimed at a simulated bison target.
• Sunday, June 22–Watch sparks fly as Outreach Coordinator Brian Hardy fires up an antique forge to demonstrate traditional blacksmithing techniques once essential to fur trade life.
The Walhalla State Historic Site is home to the recently reconstructed Kittson cabin. From 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., explore the history of Norman Kittson and the mid-19th century trading post he established around 1852. The site is located on Martyr Drive in Walhalla.
Gingras Trading Post State Historic Site and the Walhalla State Historic Site are managed by the State Historical Society of North Dakota. The grounds of both are open year-round. For more information, contact Brian Hardy, shspembina@nd.gov or 701.825.6840. Find additional programs at history.nd.gov/events.