Social Studies

Discover how the building and use of railroads declined due to the popularity of automobiles and trucks. One effect was the development of regional and short line railroads that served smaller communities. Several larger cities used local electric streetcars until the automobiles took over.

Discover how transportation has affected every step of North Dakota history. North Dakota’s position in the center of North America has always made transportation a challenge with even the earliest peoples seeking ways to cover large distances of land. The arrival of horses to the Northern Plains had a radical effect on the Native American culture and way of life.

Learn about the history of steamboats on the Red River. Although its course meandered like a lost and homesick pig, the Red River of the North was a major artery for steamboats, which coordinated with stagecoaches from St. Paul to Fort Abercrombie.

Learn about the Red River oxcarts that were the primary means of transporting goods from the Red River Valley to St. Paul.

The Story Behind Big Bend

In the United States, public lands belong to different kinds of governments. Some are federal lands owned by the United States government. Some public land is owned by the states. Other public land is owned by counties or cities. Public land can have many different uses. It might hold a courthouse or state capitol building. It might be a city playground or pool. Public land might be the site of a school or a university. Military bases are on public land. National Parks are also public land, owned by the federal government.