James J. Hill

James J. Hill’s business went beyond his empire-building railroad. In 1904, he entered into the shipping business and contracted for a ship that garnered the attention of North Dakotans. When the Dakota was launched in 1904, nearly five thousand people attended the ceremony at the shipyard in Connecticut.

Although it is a landlocked state, North Dakota has a connection to the sea thanks to James J. Hill. On this date in 1901, the Oakes Republican announced…

The Plains Indians were known for using every part of the bison. From the meat to the hides to the sinews, they could put the entire animal to good use.…

James J. Hill is a big name in the railroading history of the Great Plains, earning his nickname “The Empire Builder.” In 1878, Hill teamed up with…