Seniors Visit The State Capital

Bismarck on the east bank of the Missouri River and across the river from Mandan, was voted second most patriotic city in the United States. This second most populous city (62,000) in North Dakota after Fargo has undergone phenomenal growth. In 2014,  Forbes magazine ranked Bismarck as the seventh fastest-growing small city in the US.

The 19-story Art-Deco State Capitol is the tallest building in the state, located in central Bismarck, stands 240 feet in the air and on a clear day can be seen from 20 miles away. The state government employs more than 4,000.

As a hub of retail and health-care, Bismarck is the economic center of south-central North Dakota and north-central South Dakota. The city was named in honor of German chancellor Otto von Bismarck, they say, in hopes of attracting German investment to the area.

Seniors Find Custer’s Hang Out

 Bismarck was founded in 1872 and has been North Dakota’s capital city since the State was created from Dakota Territory and admitted to the Union in 1889. The local Chamber welcomes folks of all ages to Bismarck-Mandan.

They note…”From an outstanding quality of life to a vibrant business community, our recent national accolades confirm what we already know…this is a great place to live, work and play.” Now hop in and take a leisurely drive through  Bismarck.

The Cathedral District is a historic neighborhood near downtown Bismarck and gets its name from the Cathedral of the Holy Spirit. There are homes in the neighborhood dating back to the early 1880s. Driving around Bismarck you will find five colleges and a university.

A main tourism attraction is Fort Abraham Lincoln State Park, located 7 miles south of neighboring Mandan. It is where General Armstrong Custer hung out before the Battle of the Little Bighorn.

 Seniors Hike The Trails And Fish The River

Kirkwood Mall the the major shopping center attracts senior shoppers from all over the area. The Belle Mehus  Auditorium, a center for the arts in the area, is an historic building in downtown Bismarck dating to 1914.

Bring along a picnic lunch and some good walking shoes as Bismarck has a large park system and an extensive network of exercise trails. North Dakota is known for its fishing and hunting seasons for deer, pheasant, and waterfowl. Fishing is a year-round sport on the Missouri River bordering Bismarck.

In February 2007, Bismarck broke the record for most snow angels made in one place. A total of 8,962 participants came to the capitol grounds for the event. That’s a lot of folks and a lot of wings.

The Bismarck Tribune is the city’s daily newspaper and was established in the 1870s. It is the oldest continuously operating business in town.

Seniors, pay a visit to Bismarck the next time you’re driving through North Dakota. -jeb