North Dakota Historical Society Works to Fill Military Collection Gaps Ahead of New Museum

Lori Nohner, research historian for the State Historical Society of North Dakota. (Michael Achterling/North Dakota Monitor)

(BY: MICHAEL ACHTERLING. North Dakota Monitor) – In the collection of the North Dakota Heritage Center, rows of soldiers’ uniforms, military equipment and personal items tell the stories of service members.

The State Historical Society of North Dakota has about 10,000 military items, but only about 5% is displayed at one time. The new North Dakota Military Gallery, planned for the state Capitol grounds in Bismarck, will be able to showcase more of the collection.

Brig. Gen. Jackie Huber, deputy adjutant general for the North Dakota National Guard, said one unique aspect of the new museum is that it will focus on North Dakota’s role in the military and the stories of state service members serving abroad and at home.

“We have a number of Medal of Honor recipients that I think most North Dakotans don’t even know the stories behind them,” Huber said. “We are also going to incorporate Native American stories of the warrior culture before statehood, so that’s really unique, too.