Bonanzaville (West Fargo, ND)

Are you looking for something fun and enjoyable to do with friends and family, but also an educational day out? Look no further than Bonanzaville, a historic village and museum, located in West Fargo, ND! This is the perfect place for the history buff in your life who loves stepping back in time and learning about the area’s history! It’s a unique opportunity to explore the rich history of North Dakota.

Background Information

The North Dakota Cass County Historical Society (CCHS) was organized in 1954 and became a nonprofit corporation in North Dakota in 1955. Later that year, the CCHS got into the museum business when the Pioneer Daughters donated the contents of their historic museum housed in the basement of Menard Hall at NDSU (then NDAC) to Bonanzaville.

Since 1967, the CCHS had been collecting buildings from around the county, and moving them to the location now called Bonanzaville on land donated by the Red River Valley Fair. The name refers to the large Bonanza farms that once existed in the Red River Valley. It wasn’t until 1972 that a building to hold the museum was constructed. Artifacts were then moved from Menard Hall to the new museum. The collection now numbers over 400,000 items that are in either their permanent collection or their educational collection.

Over the years, the CCHS has accumulated 36 buildings, many with historical significance or containing period artifacts, while others house the Eugene Dahl Car Museum, the Eagles Air Museum, the Moen Tractor Museum, and the Law Enforcement Museum. 

Bonanzaville Highlights

Visitors can explore the various exhibits, artifacts, and displays to learn about the early settlers, agriculture, industry, and the heritage of the Red River Valley.

• Pioneer Village: Here you’ll find historic buildings such as the Cass County District Courthouse, Dobrinz School, Fargo’s First House, and the Blacksmith Shop. Each building has its own unique story and displays.
• Museums within Pioneer Village: Ellingson Carriage House, Eagles Air Museum, Eugene Dahl Car Museum, Law Enforcement Museum, Melroe Tractor Building, Moum Agricultural Building, Pioneer Fire Company, Railroad Museum, Steam Museum, and the Telephone Museum.
• Special Events: Bonanzaville hosts several special events throughout the year including Pioneer Days, Trunk or Treat, and Christmas on the Prairie.
• Educational Opportunities: Bonanzaville offers guided tours featuring Docents in various buildings to help students learn about the history of the Red River Valley. Teachers and students can also do a self-guided tour at their own pace.
• Rentals: The Event Center and some of the Pioneer Village buildings can be rented for wedding receptions, corporate gatherings, and meetings.
• Walking Tours: A new way to experience the village is through the free, downloadable app, Pocketsights. This app is a more immersive experience, with detailed history, photos, and even videos of the buildings throughout the pioneer village. Bonanzaville currently offers four walking tours, but more will be added!

More About Pioneer Village

Here are some of the notable buildings you can find at Bonanzaville that allows visitors to step back in time and experience the history of the region.

• Cass County District Courthouse: A recreation inside the building which originally served as the Hagemeister School #2, District #31 in Berlin Township near Argusville, ND. The building now contains the restored furnishings of the Cass County District Courtroom, which were used from 1904 to 1967.
• Dobrinz School: The first school in Mapleton Township, southwest of Fargo, ND, was built in 1895, one-quarter mile east of the farm of John Dobrinz. The school was also used for community events, church Sunday School, and as a voting precinct for Mapleton Township.
• Fargo’s First House: Built in 1868 by Harry Moore with the help of George Mann. At the time, Fargo was just a city of tents in what was then Dakota Territory. In 1872 the house served as the Man-Moore Hotel and in 1875 as a jail. In 1882 Henry Hector bought the house, rebuilt the structure, and lived there until his death in 1940. The house was then rented as a duplex for many years.
• Habberstad Cabin: Built by a group of Finlanders in 1874 out of oak logs on the farm of Helmer and Emma Habberstad located northeast of Kindred, ND. The stove located in the cabin was versatile – people would cook on it, use it as heat source, and heat water on it for baths or boil water for washing clothes. The upstairs was used only for sleeping, and the downstairs was used for cooking and socializing. It was not uncommon for 12 people to live in a cabin of this size.
• Houston House: A beautiful bonanza farm home built by David H. Houston in 1881 near Hunter, ND. The house was an elegant home with maple floors, cherry and oak wainscoting, a walnut staircase leading to the second floor, high ornamental ceilings and large bay windows. The original cost to build this house was estimated to be $7,000. It even has a bathroom, which was uncommon in any house at this time.
• Blacksmith Shop: During the height of bonanza farming every city had a blacksmith shop. People went to the blacksmith for wagon wheel rims, horseshoes, chains and plows, latches, hinges, and wrought iron gates. The blacksmith shop was moved to its present location at Bonanzaville in 1970 from Tower City, ND. Many of the shop’s original furnishings and tools are still present. The large anvil located in the shop was used by Clarence Evenson who worked as a blacksmith and machinist in Kindred, ND from 1935 to 1965.
• Ellingsberg Carriage House: This museum houses Bonanzaville’s large collection of horse-drawn vehicles and equipment – buggies, sleighs, farm wagons, drays, milk wagon, and a hearse from the Fredrickson and Brakke Funeral home are just a few of the vehicles located here. A replica of a Wells Fargo stagecoach, also known as a Concord Coach, was custom-made for Bonanzaville by the Minnesota Cart and Coach Company. Every detail is authentic.
• Eagles Air Museum: For aviation enthusiasts, this museum displays 20 aircraft dating from 1911 to 1980’s. One of the highlights of the museum is a Douglas C-47 that was used in World War II during the D-Day Invasion, and was later used to transport North Dakota’s governors from 1947 to the 1970’s.
• You will also not want to miss the Bjerklie Drug Store, Brass Rail Saloon and Hotel (which served no alcoholic beverages until 1930 because North Dakota entered the Union as a dry state), Cass-Clay Creamery, Embden Depot, Furnberg Store, Hunter Times (newspaper), Land Office Bank, Trangsrud Elevator, U-R Next Barber Shop, and numerous other houses and cabins.

Admission Information

The admission cost for Bonanzaville, which includes the museum, rotating gallery, and village, varies depending on the age of the visitor. The general admission prices are as follows:

• Adults: $12.00
• Seniors/College Students: $10.00
• Students (ages 6-16): $6.00
• Children (ages 5 and under): Free
• Military with ID: Free

It’s always a good idea to check the official Bonanzaville website or contact them directly for the most up-to-date information on admission costs, as they may change over time.

One final note, when you enter the main building of the museum, known as the headquarters of the CCHS, you will pay admission as you enter. Then you can walk freely throughout the rest of the building to check out the collection of over 400,000 artifacts. Once you have enjoyed looking at everything in the building, there are doors leading outside where the Pioneer Village is located.

Be sure to pack your curiosity for history and set off for an enriching journey to Bonanzaville. You won’t be disappointed! Enjoy!