The capital of North Dakota has the world's largest buffalo statue and several history museums. Located on the Missouri River, it's a calm government and cultural center.
Bismarck, North Dakota’s capital since 1889, invites you to climb the 18th-floor observation deck of the North Dakota State Capitol for wide views. Walk trails in Sertoma Park along the Missouri River or examine Mandan and Hidatsa artifacts at the North Dakota Heritage Center. Downtown centers around Kirkwood Mall, where you can watch local hockey games or attend events like the United Tribes International Powwow. The city provides both small-town ease and city conveniences, with restaurants serving bison burgers and walleye near government buildings. You’ll find four 18-hole golf courses and summer dinner cruises on the Lewis and Clark Riverboat.
History and Growth
Bismarck started in 1872 as a railroad stop called Edwinton, renamed later to attract German investors for the Northern Pacific Railway. Gold discoveries in the Black Hills turned it into a supply center for miners, leading to its designation as Dakota Territory’s capital in 1883. Fort Abraham Lincoln State Park preserves reconstructed Mandan earth lodges and 19th-century military buildings overlooking the Missouri River. Early 20th-century brick storefronts stand near modern government offices downtown, reflecting growth from agriculture and oil. A letter from Otto von Bismarck confirming the city’s name remains displayed in local archives, a frequent stop for history tours.
Top Places to Visit
The North Dakota State Capitol’s 19-story Art Deco tower includes government offices and a ground-floor exhibit on state history. Next door, the North Dakota Heritage Center & State Museum covers 22,000 square feet with displays on ice age fossils, Indigenous tools, and settler life. Kirkwood Mall stays a central shopping area despite suburban trends, surrounded by coffee shops and the Bismarck Veterans Memorial Public Library. Cross the river to Mandan’s North Dakota State Railroad Museum, where you can see restored locomotives and photos of early rail workers. From June to August, the Lewis and Clark Riverboat serves meals on evening cruises past limestone bluffs.
Parks and Outdoor Spaces
Sertoma Park runs three miles beside the Missouri River, linking the Dakota Zoo—which houses over 600 animals—to paved trails for biking and walking. Fish for catfish from the riverbanks or rent a kayak at one of three seasonal docks. McDowell Dam Nature Park has three stocked ponds for fishing and shaded picnic tables under cottonwood trees. Four golf courses operate in the area, including Hawktree with its distinctive black sand bunkers made from coal slag. During winter, groomed trails in city parks accommodate cross-country skiers, and Bismarck holds the 2007 record for most snow angels made simultaneously.
Cultural Events and Museums
The Bismarck Art & Gallery Association displays rotating exhibits, such as beadwork by Lakota artists or modern sculpture installations. Every September, runners join the Bismarck Marathon, which loops past the Capitol and riverfront. Mandan Rodeo Days in July includes calf roping competitions and a parade down Main Street with horseback riders. The United Tribes International Powwow each September gathers dancers and drum groups from across North America, with craft vendors selling handmade jewelry and quilts. High school theater productions and classical concerts take place at the Belle Mehus Auditorium, a restored 1914 venue with original stained glass.
Activities for Families
The Dakota Zoo includes gray wolves, a prairie dog town, and a barn where kids can feed goats. Raging Rivers Waterpark opens from Memorial Day to Labor Day with a wave pool and tube slides. Bismarck’s Parks and Recreation District maintains five public pools, including an indoor facility with a shallow play area for toddlers. Watch the Bismarck Bobcats hockey team play at the VFW Sports Center, with games from September through April. In December, drive or walk through Sertoma Park’s holiday light display, where over a million bulbs outline trees and bridges.
Getting Around
Bismarck Municipal Airport flies to seven U.S. cities, including Minneapolis and Las Vegas, via four major airlines. Downtown parking meters accept credit cards, and free shuttles run during large events like the powwow or marathon. Ride buses on fixed routes or use Uber for trips to attractions like Fort Abraham Lincoln. Major highways like I-94 connect to sites such as Knife River Indian Villages National Historic Site, a 60-mile drive north. Freight trains still pass through downtown daily, following routes established in the 1800s.
Weather and Best Times to Visit
April and May bring geese and ducks to the Missouri River, ideal for birdwatching from Sertoma Park’s trails. Summer temperatures average 80°F, perfect for evenings at Keelboat Park’s free concerts or boating on the river. October turns oak trees along the Riverwalk golden, attracting photographers to pathways near the Capitol. Winter highs hover near 22°F, with ice fishing popular on nearby lakes and indoor hockey tournaments at the VFW Sports Center. Check the city’s park website for updates on trail conditions after snowstorms, as plows focus on main roads first.
