State Historical Society of North Dakota
Encyclopedia
The State Historical Society of North Dakota is an agency that preserves and presents history through museums and historic sites in the state of North Dakota
. The agency operates the North Dakota Heritage Center
in Bismarck
, which serves as a history museum for the state, oversees the preservation of the state's historic places, and presents the history of the state to the public in exhibits and branch museums.
to staggered three-year terms. The current board president is Chester Nelson, the vice president is Gereld Gerntholz, and the seretary is Richard Kloubec. Nelson's term was scheduled to expire on July 1, 2010, pending reappointment by the governor.
. The division assists in the preservation of North Dakota historic properties at all levels, and also reviews and comments on federally assisted projects to ensure that historic values are considered in project planning and execution.
) and traveling exhibits. The Division staff provide technical assistance on exhibit design and collection care to the public and other museums in the state. The division is responsible for preserving and exhibiting the artifacts in the collection, including approximately 650,000 pieces in the archaeological collection and 43,000 artifacts in the history, ethnology, and natural history collections.
years: the Oscar-Zero Missile Alert Facility and the November-33 Launch Facility. These two facilities are the last of the 321st Missile Wing, a cluster of intercontinental ballistic missile
launch sites that were spread over a 6500 square miles (16,834.9 km²) area around the Grand Forks Air Force Base
. These dacilities played an major part in how the United States responded to the training and testing of responding to a nuclear threat. The Oscar-Zero Site is the last launch control center intact for the public to visit, along with the top-side access to November 33 missile facility.
North Dakota
North Dakota is a state located in the Midwestern region of the United States of America, along the Canadian border. The state is bordered by Canada to the north, Minnesota to the east, South Dakota to the south and Montana to the west. North Dakota is the 19th-largest state by area in the U.S....
. The agency operates the North Dakota Heritage Center
North Dakota Heritage Center
The North Dakota Heritage Center, located on the North Dakota State Capitol grounds in Bismarck, is the state of North Dakota's official history museum. The museum, which was opened in 1967 by the Heritage Center Commission, is operated by the State Historical Society of North Dakota and features...
in Bismarck
Bismarck, North Dakota
Bismarck is the capital of the U.S. state of North Dakota and the county seat of Burleigh County. It is the second most populous city in North Dakota after Fargo. The city's population was 61,272 at the 2010 census, while its metropolitan population was 108,779...
, which serves as a history museum for the state, oversees the preservation of the state's historic places, and presents the history of the state to the public in exhibits and branch museums.
Organization
Headquartered in Bismarck, the State Historical Society consists of one governing board of appointees and four divisions, each with a different function.State Historical Board
The State Historical Board consists of twelve members. Seven members are appointed by the governorGovernor of North Dakota
The Governor of North Dakota is the chief executive of North Dakota. The current Governor is Jack Dalrymple. The Governor has the right to sign and laws, and to call the Legislative Assembly, into emergency session. The Governor is also chairman of the North Dakota Industrial Commission. The...
to staggered three-year terms. The current board president is Chester Nelson, the vice president is Gereld Gerntholz, and the seretary is Richard Kloubec. Nelson's term was scheduled to expire on July 1, 2010, pending reappointment by the governor.
Historic Preservation Division
The Historic Preservation Division prepares a statewide historic preservation plan and inventories, evaluates, and nominates sites to be listed on the State and National Register of Historic PlacesNational Register of Historic Places
The National Register of Historic Places is the United States government's official list of districts, sites, buildings, structures, and objects deemed worthy of preservation...
. The division assists in the preservation of North Dakota historic properties at all levels, and also reviews and comments on federally assisted projects to ensure that historic values are considered in project planning and execution.
State Archives Division
The State Archives is responsible for the documentary collections of the State Historical Society of North Dakota. It is the official state archives, and acquires and preserves all types of research materials relating to North Dakota and the Northern Great Plains, including manuscript collections, books, periodicals, maps, newspapers, audio and video materials, and photographs.Museum and Education Division
The Museum and Education Division presents the history of North Dakota through exhibits in the North Dakota Heritage Center as well as in branch museums (such as the Pembina State MuseumPembina State Museum
The Pembina State Museum is a North Dakota State Historical Society-owned museum in Pembina, North Dakota. It features two exhibit galleries and an observation tower.-Collections:...
) and traveling exhibits. The Division staff provide technical assistance on exhibit design and collection care to the public and other museums in the state. The division is responsible for preserving and exhibiting the artifacts in the collection, including approximately 650,000 pieces in the archaeological collection and 43,000 artifacts in the history, ethnology, and natural history collections.
Support Services Division
The Support Services Division provides general supervision of all programs and responsibilities of the agency through the office of the director. Support and coordination are provided through budgeting, accounting, purchasing, personnel services, communications, inventory control, and overall security functions.Ronald Reagan Minuteman Missile Site
The new Ronald Reagan Minuteman Missile State Historic Site actually consists of two sites, both telling the story of North Dakota military activities during the Cold WarCold War
The Cold War was the continuing state from roughly 1946 to 1991 of political conflict, military tension, proxy wars, and economic competition between the Communist World—primarily the Soviet Union and its satellite states and allies—and the powers of the Western world, primarily the United States...
years: the Oscar-Zero Missile Alert Facility and the November-33 Launch Facility. These two facilities are the last of the 321st Missile Wing, a cluster of intercontinental ballistic missile
Intercontinental ballistic missile
An intercontinental ballistic missile is a ballistic missile with a long range typically designed for nuclear weapons delivery...
launch sites that were spread over a 6500 square miles (16,834.9 km²) area around the Grand Forks Air Force Base
Grand Forks Air Force Base
Grand Forks Air Force Base is a United States Air Force base located north of Emerado, North Dakota and approximately west of Grand Forks, North Dakota...
. These dacilities played an major part in how the United States responded to the training and testing of responding to a nuclear threat. The Oscar-Zero Site is the last launch control center intact for the public to visit, along with the top-side access to November 33 missile facility.