Culture

​Folklore Haunting the Former Governor’s Mansion

October 17th, 2024

By Johnathan Campbell 

history@nd.gov

Since Halloween is just around the corner, I thought I’d share three mysterious — and mildly creepy folktales — that have been shared about the Former Governors' Mansion State Historic Site, which housed 20 chief executives between 1893 and 1960. Folktales are one of those things that both confound and delight historic house interpreters when their visitors engage them with a statement or question that they believe with all their heart to be…

Read more...


​The HPR Spooky 13

October 16th, 2024

By HPR Staff

Halloween is upon us and we did our best to share some spooky and altogether ooky attractions as our top picks for the season. We included a 13 pack of haunts with a couple extra bonuses if you’re willing to go the distance.

We stirred up some of our old favorites as well as some historic haunts for the occasion. Don’t blame us if you have to sleep with the lights on.

Paranormal Investigations

October 4-26

Bonanzaville, West Fargo

Staff and guests have experienced…

Read more...


A man with 93 grandchildren: The memories of Joseph Vetter

October 10th, 2024

By Michael M. Miller

michael.miller@ndsu.edu

On October 11 and 12, Dr. Ann Braaten and I are presenting at the Regina and District Chapter of the American Historical Society of Germans from Russia in Lincoln, Nebraska. Ann will speak on Friday, October 11 at 6:30 p.m. Her talk will be titled,“Traditional Textiles and Clothing of the Germans from Russia Immigrants.” And I will speak on Saturday, October 12 at 7 p.m., discussing “The Genealogical, Historical & Cultural Information…

Read more...


​Reflections from the prairie

September 19th, 2024

By Michael M. Miller

michael.miller@ndsu.edu

I was pleased to visit with many colleagues and at the Germans from Russia Heritage Society Convention in Mandan in July, and at the American Historical Society of Germans from Russia Convention in Oklahoma City in August. There were many excellent workshops, displays, and presentations.

In July, Leo Rung of Munich, Germany, visited the Germans from Russia Heritage Collection to research his Hopfauf family that settled near Fallon/Flasher,…

Read more...


​From Ellis Island to the prairie

August 15th, 2024

By Michael Miller

michael.miller@ndsu.edu

As I reflect back on July, I want to share a USA Today article from July 3, 1986, celebrating the 100th anniversary of the Statue of Liberty. It has been 138 years since 1886 when immigrants, including the Germans from Russia, arrived at Ellis Island, New York. Allan Neuharth, a native of Eureka, South Dakota., was the founder of USA Today. His ancestors emigrated from the Glueckstal District villages in South Russia to South Dakota, in the…

Read more...


​Four men, three horses

August 15th, 2024

America’s first extreme sport live at Chippewa Downs

By Sabrina Hornung

sabrina@hpr1.com

Indian relay races have often been referred to as America’s first extreme sport. On the weekend of September 7 and 8, the relays are coming to Chippewa Downs in Belcourt, North Dakota, one of the two remaining horse tracks in North Dakota.

Though this is definitely not your standard horse race, the feats of horsemanship and athleticism is an artform in itself. It’s all done bareback —meaning no…

Read more...


Your 2024 Fall Event Calendar

August 15th, 2024

The nights are getting cooler, the days are slowly shortening and school supplies and Halloween goodies are already on the shelves. Fall is coming — and it looks like fun.

Celebrate the season with harvest festivals, pumpkin patches, Oktoberfests, haunted houses, corn mazes, spooky bar crawls and paranormal events across North Dakota and western Minnesota. (Don’t worry, there are lots of non-haunted happenings, plays, concerts and vendor shows, too.)

September

Dakota Nights Astronomy…

Read more...


​The rhythm of the ride

July 18th, 2024

The life of a jockey straight from the horse's mouth

By Sabrina Hornung

sabrina@hpr1.com

For George Pineda, jockeying is a family tradition. But that legacy includes loss.

“My uncles, Alvaro and Robert Pineda — one got killed in a starting gate, the other one in Pimlico,” says Pineda. “They were the catalyst for all this.”

Originally from California, Pineda now hangs his hat in Florida. But he travels cross country to wherever the tracks take him. This July, Pineda (along with a…

Read more...


​The Deuce abides

July 18th, 2024

Deuce of August festival celebrates 125 years and many more

By Sabrina Hornung

sabrina@hpr1.com

According to the 2022 census, the population of Mountain, North Dakota is around 70, give or take a few. But this small, largely Icelandic community packs a mighty punch, drawing thousands during the annual Deuce of August festival, which is held August 1-4 this year.

What’s so special about “The Deuce,” one may ask?

It is the longest running ethnic festival in North Dakota (2024 is its…

Read more...


Life in the ‘Promised Land’:

July 8th, 2024

Homesteading stories shared by late local historian

By Michael M. Miller

michael.miller@ndsu.edu

The 53rd Germans from Russia Heritage Society Convention convenes July 17-20 at the Baymont Hotel in Mandan, North Dakota. For further information, contact GRHS at www.grhs.org.

The Germans from Russia Heritage Society Convention provides a chance to connect with others who are passionate about this group’s unique culture, art, and history. One such individual is historian and author Leona…

Read more...


Tracker Pixel for Entry Empire Tracker Pixel for Entry Farrms1 Tracker Pixel for Entry Bismarck Tracker Pixel for Entry FPL Tracker Pixel for Entry Blackbird Tracker Pixel for Entry 7Clans

Recently in:

By Alicia Underlee Nelsonalicia@hpr1.com Ten North Dakota communities will participate in the nationwide No Kings Day of Peaceful Action on October 18. The grassroots movement is a nonviolent protest against President Trump’s…

By Michael M. Millermichael.miller@ndsu.edu I would like to recognize some of the scholarly Germans from Russia from Canada and USA shared on the GRHC website. There are additional names not included here. If you have suggestions…

Friday, October 31, doors 8 p.m. show starts at 8:30 p.m.The Aquarium above Dempey’s, 226 N. Broadway, FargoThe annual Aquarium Halloween Cover Show is back and it is stacked. And this time there are a limited amount of presale…

By Sabrina Hornungsabrina@hpr1.com At the end of September, downtown Fargo said goodbye to another old friend; the Spirit Room closed its doors, marking the end of an era. The Spirit Room room has been a fixture downtown for the…

By Ed Raymondfargogadfly@gmail.comAnother public health crisis besides guns: lack of empathyThe Sisters of Charity have finally had enough of their Trumper boss, Roman Catholic Cardinal Timothy Dolan of New York. One of the most…

By Rick Gionrickgion@gmail.com Holiday wine shopping shouldn’t have to be complicated. But unfortunately it can cause unneeded anxiety due to an overabundance of choices. Don’t fret my friends, we once again have you covered…

By Rick Gion and Nichole Hensenrickgion@gmail.com The wait is finally over. Those who have visited Nichole’s Fine Pastry & Cafe lately know about the recent major additions and renovations that have taken place over the past…

By Sabrina Hornungsabrina@hpr1.com Dakotah Faye is a hip-hop artist from Minot, North Dakota, and he’s had a busy year. He’s released two albums. This summer he opened for Tech N9ne in Sturgis and will be opening for Bone…

By Greg Carlsongregcarlson1@gmail.comNoémie Merlant, working from a script she wrote with Pauline Munier and her “Portrait of a Lady on Fire” collaborator Celine Sciamma, directs herself in “The Balconettes” (the…

By Sabrina Hornungsabrina@hpr1.com Gallery 4 downtown recently celebrated its 50 year anniversary, making it one of the longest consecutively running galleries in the country. With different membership tiers, there are 17 primary…

Press release“Shakespeare with a sharpened edge.” To launch its 2025 – 2026 season, Theatre NDSU is thrilled to team up with Moorhead-based organization Theatre B to perform a co-production of Shakespeare’s “Romeo and…

By Annie Prafckeannieprafcke@gmail.com AUSTIN, Texas – As a Chinese-American, connecting to my culture through food is essential, and no dish brings me back to my mother’s kitchen quite like hotdish. Yes, you heard me right –…

By Sabrina Hornungsabrina@hpr1.comNew Jamestown Brewery Serves up Local FlavorThere’s something delicious brewing out here on the prairie and it just so happens to be the newest brewery west of the Red River and east of the…

By Ellie Liveranieli.liverani.ra@gmail.com When we are sick, all we want is a cure. You go to the doctor, they give you a pill, you take it for a bit, then you are cured. It happens. But unfortunately, it is not always the case. …

By Alicia Underlee NelsonProtests against President Trump’s policies and the cuts made by Elon Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) are planned across North Dakota and western Minnesota Friday, April 4 and…

By Vern Thompsonvern.thompson@rocketmail.comMoral accountability and the crisis of leadership  As a recovering person living one day at a time for the last 35 years, I have learned not to judge others because I have not walked in…