www.hawkmuseum.org

Wolford, North Dakota is a small prairie town located on Highway 17 in Northern Pierce County.  It has an excellent award winning school, Lutheran church, Post Office, a farm supply business and a bar/convenience store/café.

The Dale and Martha Hawk Museum is located four miles east of Wolford on Hwy. 17 and three miles north on Hwy. 30. 

This gem on the prairie evolved from the ingenuity, hard work and inventive mind of Dale Hawk and his wife Martha, who are now both deceased.  Dale was a genius inventor and mechanic whose hobby of restoring and preserving tractors and other machinery led to what is now a vast collection of machinery and other things from the past.

The museum consists of their first farm home, a country church, general store, country school, clock house, doll collection, community hall, black-smith shop and a newly renovated old school building displaying typical rooms of a pioneer home and businesses of the past.

There are also three other large buildings filled with antique tractors, machinery, cars, other items from days gone by and a sawmill operation, threshing grounds and campgrounds.

As Dale and Martha grew older, many people from the area volunteered their time and talents to run and preserve the museum.  After their deaths, the museum has continued to operate and flourish on a volunteer basis.  In 2006 the museum celebrated its 25th anniversary.  Each year the museum hosts an Antique Farm Show on the 2nd full weekend in June and a Fall Fest in September.  The June show consists of daily parades, threshing, lumber milling, live music, flea & craft market, great food, children’s activities and many other events.

The museum gets no funding from Federal, State or local government.  It is solely supported by donations and volunteer help.  Museum hours are 9 a.m. – 5 p.m. daily from May – October with other times by appointment.  For more info visit www.hawkmuseum.org or e-mail dmhark@gondtc.com  You can also call (701) 583-2381 or (701) 583-2532.

9-11 Rubble International Peace Garden – Wikimedia

Since 1932, nestled in the Turtle Mountains of north central North Dakota and south central Manitoba, the International Peace Garden is one of the continent’s most symbolic and scenic attractions.

Thousands of tourists flock to this unique tribute to peace and friendship between the people of the United States of America and the people of Canada.

The Garden, encompasses 2,300 acres of natures beauty; two pristine fresh water lakes, scenic hiking and driving trails, wildflowers, waterfalls, and  a large variety of North American  birds and animals.  Modern and rustic camping facilities are available, as well as, facilities for hosting weddings, conventions, and reunions.  Last, but not least, is the phenomenal Formal Garden. Words cannot express the beauty, pride and peace many experience as they gaze over this impressive garden of over 155,000 flowers in displays tucked in the terraces and walkways of the garden.

The therapeutic sounds of flowing waters can be heard throughout the garden in various capacities.  At the far end of the Garden, 120 foot Peace Towers immerse symbolizing people from the four corners of the earth coming together to form two similar, but distinct nations, with a common base of democracy and beliefs. The American and Canadian floral flag displays are the only two floral displays throughout the garden, which remain the same every year. The working 13 foot floral clock displays 2,000 to 2,500 flowers each year depending on the design.

Peace rings in the International Peace Garden every inch of its being.  Every fifteen minutes and on the hour, the lovely tones of the chimes can be heard from the Carillon Bell Tower.  Peace Poles, presented by the Japanese Government, in which, “May Peace Prevail” is written in twenty-eight different languages. The Peace Chapel is the only building straddling the U.S. and Canadian Border.  The chapel features dozens of quotes from “People of Peace” etched into beautiful fossil embellished limestone walls.

In the truly inspirational Garden’s Chapel lies open a book of remembrance, displaying the names of the victims of 9/11.   The 9/11 Memorial Site, of twisted girders rescued from the World Trade Center devastation, are at rest, a symbol of peace and democracy.

The International Peace Garden, “Like No Other Place on Earth”, is a perfect and memorable retreat, where people and nature meet.

For more information, please go online at: www.peacegarden.com or call: (888) 432-6733.

Downtown Fargo – Wikimedia

Fargo-Moorhead is one of the friendliest places in America!   This is a fun, warm-hearted community of two cities in two states with a population of over 200,000.  Fargo-Moorhead is located at the intersection of Interstate Highways I-29 and I-94.

Fargo-Moorhead is the home of Bonanzaville, USA, a re-created frontier town and museum that allows visitors to experience a small community of the late 19th century.  Nowhere but in Fargo-Moorhead will you find a museum dedicated to baseball great Roger Maris, a Fargo native.

Fargo-Moorhead is also home to the Plains Art Museum, the Rourke Art Museum and the historic Comstock House.  You might also want to visit the Historical & Cultural Society of Clay County.   It documents the history of the region’s Norwegian immigrants who, along with Canadians, Germans and Icelanders, settled much of the area.  The museum contains the Hjemkomst, a replica of an ancient Viking ship, which completed a voyage to Norway in 1982.

Fargo-Moorhead is also home to a zoo that specializes in rare and endangered species and the Fargo Theatre, a fully restored 1920’s movie theatre.

Fargo-Moorhead isn’t entirely about past events.  It is the largest shopping destination between Minneapolis / St. Paul and Spokane, WA.  With super shopping, a variety of over 350 restaurants, cultural events, museums, and professional and amateur sports make it a great destination for visitors.  There’s always a festival or special event going on in Fargo-Moorhead too!