Dale Lennon will visit 48 communities across the state in April to promote and share information about the Military Gallery being constructed on the state Capitol grounds in Bismarck.
The State Historical Society of North Dakota (SHSND) Foundation is hitting the road in April for a 48-stop tour to promote and share information about the Military Gallery being built on the state Capitol grounds in Bismarck. The gallery will honor North Dakotans who serve and have served in the U.S. Armed Forces.
The 20,000-square-foot Military Gallery is part of a 67,000-square-foot addition to the North Dakota Heritage Center and State Museum. The addition will include a North Dakota National Guard Regimental Room and event center capable of holding 400 people, a restaurant, and an outdoor courtyard and amphitheater.
“There’s a lot of other sidebars that are attached to the Military Gallery, but the Military Gallery is what is driving the force and what we’re trying to make sure that when we put it together, we have a world-class military museum that will show and tell the North Dakota story,” says Dale Lennon, executive director of the SHSND Foundation.
At each stop on the caravan, Lennon will give a short presentation followed by community discussion. Participants will learn how they can share their family's military stories, photographs and artifacts with the SHSND, as well as how to make a financial contribution.
“A lot of people aren’t even aware of the fact this military gallery is being constructed. The purpose of this caravan, it has many layers, and part of it is just getting the awareness out to the communities,” Lennon says.
Recording the oral histories of North Dakotans’ military service is another layer.
“North Dakota people are extremely humble, and a lot of times, they just don’t share things that they should be extremely proud about. So, that’s something, too, that we want to make very easy for the people to contribute, so the story can be told in a way that will be very respectful,” Lennon says.
For more information about the Military Gallery Caravan or the Military Gallery project, visit statehistoricalfoundation.org/north-dakota-military-gallery or contact Lennon at dale@statehistoricalfoundation.org or 701-328-2666.
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Military Gallery Caravan
• Grand Forks – April 6, 8 a.m. and 5 p.m., UND Memorial Union, Ballroom B
• Hillsboro – April 6, noon, Hillsboro Community Center
• Grafton – April 7, 8 a.m., Heritage Village
• Cavalier – April 7, noon, City Hall
• Langdon – April 7, 5 p.m., American Legion
• Lakota – April 8, 9 a.m., American Legion
• Devils Lake – April 8, noon, VFW
• Rugby – April 8, 5 p.m., Memorial Hall
• Fort Totten – April 9, 8 a.m., Cankdeska Cikana Community College
• Leeds – April 9, noon, Leeds Community Center
• Maddock – April 9, 5 p.m., American Legion Hall
• Fargo – April 13, 8 a.m. and 5 p.m., Dakota Medical Foundation
• West Fargo – April 13, noon, Rustad Recreation Center
• Wahpeton – April 14, 8:30 a.m., Law Enforcement Center
• Casselton – April 14, noon, Casselton Vets Club
• Valley City – April 14, 5 p.m., Valley City Eagles
• Oakes – April 15, 9 a.m., Oakes American Legion Hall
• Edgeley – April 15, noon, Bottoms Up
• Ellendale – April 15, 5 p.m., American Legion Activity Center
• Carrington – April 16, 8 a.m., Carrington City Library
• Cooperstown – April 16, noon, Griggs County Courthouse
• Jamestown – April 16, 5 p.m., 1883 Stutsman County Courthouse
• Minot – April 20, 8 a.m., Dakota Territory Air Museum
• Velva – April 20, noon, Velva American Legion
• Bottineau – April 20, 5 p.m., Veterans Memorial Hall
• Crosby – April 21, 8:30 a.m., Divide County Courthouse
• Stanley – April 21, noon, Memorial Building
• Williston – April 21, 5 p.m., Old Armory, Lower Level
• Watford City – April 22, 9 a.m., Veterans Memorial Building
• New Town – April 22, noon, Veterans Affairs Building
• Hazen – April 22, 5 p.m., Hazen City Hall
• Hebron – April 23, 8 a.m., Hebron City Hall
• New Salem – April 23, noon, Golden Nugget
• Washburn – April 23, 5 p.m., Lewis & Clark Interpretive Center
• Richardton – April 27, 8 a.m., American Legion Club
• Killdeer – April 27, noon, American Legion Hall
• Bowman – April 28, 8:30 a.m., Bowman City Hall
• Mott – April 28, noon, American Legion Club
• Flasher – April 28, 5 p.m., Flasher 55+ Club
• Linton – April 29, 9 a.m., Emmons County Courthouse
• Hazelton – April 29, noon, Hazelton Coffee Shop
• Wilton – April 29, 5 p.m., Wilton Memorial Hall
• Bismarck – April 30, 8 a.m., North Dakota Heritage Center & State Museum
• Mandan – April 30, noon, Moose Lodge
• Bismarck – April 30, 5 p.m., Bismarck AMVETS
