Sitting Bull to Phil Jackson, cattle to prairie dogs, knoephla to lefse. North Dakota's legacy includes many strange stories of eccentric towns, war heroes, and various colorful characters. Hear all about them on Dakota Datebook, your daily dose of North Dakota history.
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Dakota Datebook is made in partnership with the State Historical Society of North Dakota, and funded by Humanities North Dakota, a nonprofit, independent state partner of the National Endowment for the Humanities. Any views, findings, conclusions, or recommendations expressed in the program do not necessarily reflect those of Humanities North Dakota or the National Endowment for the Humanities.
You can find all Dakota Datebooks from 2018-today below. Our archive of Datebooks from 2003-2017 can be found here.
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In 1912, political fervor and interest swept the country over the presidential election. President Taft sought the Republican nomination, challenged by former President Theodore Roosevelt, who unexpectedly entered the race. Senator Robert LaFollette was yet another contender for the nomination. -
When the North Dakota Agriculture College was established in 1890, many North Dakota farmers were skeptical that “college boys” could help them improve their farms. But it didn’t take long for those college boys to win them over.
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On this day in 1992, the Dakota Clinic and Hospital in Fargo celebrated Dr. Blaine Amidon’s 50 years as an OB-GYN. The celebrated doctor had delivered an estimated 18,000 babies during his long career.
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Pasta and safaris may seem like an odd combination but to the organizers of North Dakota’s “Spaghetti Safari,” it was the perfect opportunity to showcase the state’s wheat and durum industry. Their goal was to promote North Dakota products and connect with stakeholders and partners from across the country.
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When the French and Austrian armies squared off in the 1859 Battle of Solferino, they fought with modern firearms and artillery. The casualties were horrific. Jean-Henri Dunant was stunned by the misery of wounded soldiers left on the battlefield without care.
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When Europeans arrived in the area along the Pembina and Red Rivers in the 1600s, the land was already home to the Assiniboine and Lakota. They were later joined by the Chippewa, who migrated from the east and became the dominant tribe, pushing the others farther west.
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Continuing our story about taxi warfare and parking meters on August 12, we now turn to their fraught ending in North Dakota.
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In 1934, children generally made their own entertainment. Sometimes it was informal, like jumping into a lake or stream, no lifeguards required. Sometimes it meant playing games with definite rules, like baseball or football. Kids divided themselves into teams and set their own boundaries as games were played in a backyard or open field, no adult supervision needed.
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On this date in 1930, the body of Vernon Squires, Dean of the College of Liberal Arts, laid in state at the University of North Dakota.
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Registering a child’s birth today seems straightforward. It ensures your new arrival is counted in the state’s population and receives a record that will follow them throughout life. Birth certificates are essential to access education, healthcare, government services and to prove one’s identity. But just a few generations ago, registering a birth wasn’t so simple.
Dakota Datebook is made in partnership with the State Historical Society of North Dakota, and funded by Humanities North Dakota, a nonprofit, independent state partner of the National Endowment for the Humanities.
Any views, findings, conclusions, or recommendations expressed in the program do not necessarily reflect those of Humanities North Dakota or the National Endowment for the Humanities.