Whether you’re looking to do some shopping or simply relax with family and friends, Jamestown has plenty of fun things to do. Among our favorite Jamestown ND attractions are the World’s Largest Buffalo and the National Buffalo Museum!
If you’re an art lover, check out the Kirkpatrick Gallery or the Louis L’Amour Exhibit. Or, enjoy a self-guided walking tour that takes you past many of Jamestown’s iconic sites.
The National Buffalo Museum is located at the Frontier Village in Jamestown North Dakota. It is a great place for kids to learn about the bison and its importance in the Plains Indian culture.
It also has a very interesting gift shop full of all kinds of stuff with a buffalo theme. It is a small but cool museum and is worth checking out for a quick visit.
There are three very rare albino buffalo, White Cloud, Dakota Miracle and Dakota Legend that live on a 200 acre refuge nearby the museum. These buffalo are sacred to Native American tradition and are a sign of peace, unity, earth stewardship and plenty.
The Louis L’Amour Exhibit is a great place to learn more about the famous Western writer. It includes a kiosk exhibition and walking tour that tells the story of his early life in Jamestown, N.D.
According to the exhibit, he was born in Jamestown in 1908 and grew up in a home where books were always available. He went on to become a world renowned writer and wrote 89 novels.
There was a desire in the community some years ago to establish a museum dedicated to L’Amour but obstacles including opposition from his family halted that idea.
The James River Valley Library System is working on a permanent display that will focus on his time in Jamestown and items from the community associated with his life are welcome to be in the display. The display will coincide with the Alfred Dickey Library 2019 Centennial Initiative, said Bill Kennedy, development director for the library.
JAMESTOWN - Fort Seward Military Post overlooks the James River Valley and is a great place to learn about pioneer and military history. The site is home to an interpretive center, Stutsman County Veterans Wall and the largest U.S. flag on display in North Dakota (weather permitting).
The grounds also offer camping and have a walking trail. You can also visit the Stutsman County Memorial Museum to see the memorabilia from the region.
The Fort Seward Military Post also offers a wagon train that gives participants a chance to experience what it was like to be a pioneer. The train consists of canvas-topped box wagons that are pulled by draft horses and an experienced “teamster.”
Located in the Lutz Mansion, the Stutsman County Memorial Museum has a collection of historical artifacts that is both eclectic and fascinating. It features a claim shanty, post office and railroad room as well as stained glass and other historic elements that tell the story of Jamestown.
The Stutsman County Memorial Museum is open from Memorial Day through Labor Day, weekdays 10:00 AM to 5:00 PM and weekends 1:00PM to 5:00PM. It also hosts Front Porch Chats on Sundays at 2:00PM to highlight Jamestown’s pioneer history.
The Stutsman County Memorial Museum records include correspondence, bylaws, annual meeting minutes, committee files and subject files related to the Chamber of Commerce, local businesses, Chamber membership and the city and surrounding area. These files document topics such as industrial development, Chamber membership, the Stutsman County Fair and State Dairy Show, tourism and other Chamber activities.
Frontier Village is a collection of original buildings that have been brought together to create a frontier town. It’s a fun place to step back in time to a world that was just a few hundred years ago.
Visitors can see the Louis L’Amour writer’s shack, walk through the Northern Pacific Railroad Depot (1880), and explore a pioneer schoolhouse and church. There are also gift shops that feature North Dakota merchandise and handmade goods by local artisans.
The Frontier Village board and the city of Jamestown recently reached an agreement that deeded ownership to the city. This will allow the city to make repairs to the property and to operate it in the future.
