Dr. Steve Hoffbeck

We all know what a blizzard is, but we don’t know where the word came from. The National Weather Service nowadays refers to a blizzard event, which means…

Ben Bird was a true cowboy in North Dakota history. He knew how to herd cattle and how to rope and ride.Born in Texas in 1864, Benton “Ben” Bird came to…

Today we examine a buried-treasure legend from the 1920s, an unlikely tale that triggered a treasure hunt in Bismarck.In 1927, a young fellow named…

Vague fears of nuclear war can lurk like green monsters hiding under the bed. In 1945, the grim destructive power of atomic weapons became clear at…

Many Baby Boomers recall the years when automobiles did not have seatbelts. A 1964 public-service song became a brain-worm: “Buckle-up for safety, always…

Christmas bells ring in many forms – church bells, jingle bells, sleigh bells – all bringing forth heart-warming holiday memories.Salvation Army bells…

Arguably, the greatest U.S. invention in the 1800s was the railroad, because railways tied the nation together, building commerce across the land. If a…

There have been times in North Dakota when students in public schools regularly recited the “Pledge of Allegiance” as a patriotic classroom habit. With…

Sauerkraut. The very word, brings to mind pungent thoughts, smells and memories. Overpowering aromas of zesty, naturally fermented cabbage – called “sour…

In the year 1890, inventing a talking doll seemed like a brilliant idea to Thomas Edison. He had already captured sound on tin-foil-coated records with…