The architectural work of the Ritterbush family has left a lasting impact on North Dakota. Responsible for a vast range of public spaces and civic buildings, their legacy touches all corners of the state. As interns this summer, we worked directly with the Ritterbush architectural drawings and family photograph collection at the State Archives, helping to scan and catalogue the agency’s holdings.

Migrating from New England in 1882, the Ritterbush-Dyer family settled in Oakes, where they met the Nichols family, early homesteaders in Dakota Territory. Robert A. Ritterbush married Ruth Nichols, a deeply involved community member active in teaching, homemaking, and the local church. The couple later moved to Bismarck, where they had two children, Robert H. and Elizabeth Ritterbush.

The Ritterbush family pictured at the Montana state line sign, circa 1930. From left: Robert A., Robert H., Elizabeth, and Ruth Ritterbush. The Ritterbushes celebrated art, nature, and adventure, and this was taken on one of their many road trips around North Dakota. SHSND SA 11636-02070

The Oakes High School Glee Club was organized by the local Presbyterian minister and consisted of male students, including Robert A. Ritterbush (front row, right), 1920. SHSND SA 11636-05113

Clarence Ritterbush, the younger brother of Robert A., was considered an unconventional gentleman. Standing 5 feet, 5 inches tall with an outgoing nature and dapper style, he remained an adventurous bachelor until the age of 58, when he settled down with his wife, Caroline (Boehrnsen) Ritterbush.

The brothers began their career at an early age. Robert A. and Clarence Ritterbush received training in construction and design from their contractor father in their hometown of Oakes. Rarely apart, the brothers attended the Ohio Mechanics Institute in Cincinnati, until the death of their father prompted their return. Enlisting in the Navy in 1917, the brothers served together in World War I before returning home to partner with their former mentor, Arthur Van Horn, to found the Van Horn-Ritterbush, Inc. architectural firm in Bismarck. Their firm quickly established a name and reputation around the state, with Robert A. writing in 1931 that 90% of buildings in downtown Bismarck were designed by Van Horn-Ritterbush.

Though this photograph has no story or date attached to it, it shows the brothers as they were throughout their youth—inseparable. Here, Robert A. (left) and Clarence Ritterbush pose while rowing a boat. SHSND SA 11636-01693

Even while living apart later in life, the brothers continued their partnership for decades. While working in cities such as Chicago and Skagway, Alaska, Clarence often sent sketches back to Bismarck, where Robert A. resided. Eventually their firm was passed down to Robert A.’s son Robert H. and took on the name Ritterbush Associates. Following in his father and uncle’s footsteps, Robert H. Ritterbush continued to grow the firm as a well-known and trusted name.

Like his father, Robert H. Ritterbush enlisted in the Navy. In this photo, father and son pose in their Navy uniforms from two global conflicts (World War I and World War II) decades apart, circa 1945. SHSND SA 11636-04830

Today, the Ritterbush legacy can still be seen on business streets across western and central North Dakota. Their highly detailed blueprints, donated by the Ritterbush Associates of Bismarck in 1985, highlight their meticulousness and dedication to construction and design. Sharing a passion for history, family, and photography, the family also amassed a vast collection of letters, portraits, and postcards from around the world. Many items are accompanied by a humorous story, revealing their humility in the face of success. The Ritterbushes are truly a family who represent the growth of North Dakota, its people and communities.

The town of Medora is a gem of western North Dakota, but how much do you really know about the person it was named for? An exciting exhibit opening later this month at the North Dakota Heritage Center & State Museum celebrates the accomplishments, fascinating life, and artistic skill of the town’s namesake, Medora Manca.

Medora von Hoffman was an American heiress from New York when she married into French aristocracy, and her history has often been eclipsed by that of her more flamboyant husband, Antoine Amédée Marie Vincent Manca Amat de Vallombrosa (commonly known as the Marquis de Morès). In addition to learning about the often-overlooked life story of Medora (the person), visitors will have the opportunity to view more than two dozen of her spectacular watercolor paintings. Many of these watercolors were painted between 1883 and 1886, and some are publicly displayed for the first time in the exhibition.

These two images of Medora from the upcoming exhibit celebrate the duality of her background, that of a wealthy heiress and an adventurous spirit living in Dakota Territory during the years 1883-1886. SHSND SA 00097-00038, 00042-00081

Medora painted landscapes and scenes around their home at the time, the Chateau de Morès (now a state historic site). The scenes were painted outdoors (“en plein air” in French), and many of the landscapes and buildings depicted will be familiar to visitors acquainted with the rugged beauty of the Badlands.

The Little Missouri River, the city of Medora, and Theodore Roosevelt National Park are all visible in this image captured via an uncrewed aerial vehicle operated by agency staff in June 2025.

State Historical Society of North Dakota archaeologists recently conducted research in Medora related to a military encampment (called a cantonment) that housed soldiers guarding the early railroad being built in the area. The cantonment was active from 1879 to 1883. The research we’re doing is helping document the former location of the cantonment in advance of a planned project.

To accomplish this, researchers are using historical documents, field research, geophysical remote sensing equipment, and uncrewed aerial vehicles (or drones). The work is a cooperative project of the State Historical Society and the Theodore Roosevelt Medora Foundation. The research and analysis are ongoing, and we continue to learn more.

Above left: Troops stand in formation in front of a barracks located at the Medora cantonment in this 1880 photograph. Note the Badlands landscape visible in the background of this historical photo. H-00305b, Montana Historical Society Library & Archives, Helena, Montana
Above right: An image of that same location from June 2025.
Below: Architectural plans of the cantonment barracks from 1879. National Archives (photo no. 205135316)

The research location also provided an opportunity to try to replicate some of the vantage points Medora used while painting these watercolors. Aerial photography with the drone allows us to consider the beauty of the rugged landscapes around Medora (the city) and to appreciate them as Medora (the artist) may have. Her paintings document a significant period of history in North Dakota, and her skill as an artist is impressive!

The author and colleague Erica Scherr use an uncrewed aerial vehicle to capture images around Medora, June 2025. The Little Missouri River, the Chateau de Morès State Historic Site, and the town of Medora are all visible in the background.

In June 2025, Historic Preservation Specialist Erica Scherr and I captured drone images that will be paired with several of Medora’s watercolor paintings from the exhibit. The images depict many of the same Badlands landmarks visible in Medora’s 1880s artwork. The perspectives are shifted slightly, as she obviously didn’t paint from the same height as a drone. But you can still get a sense of the relationships among objects and the landscapes that Medora Manca experienced as she painted.

Left: Watercolor of the Chateau de Morès and nearby outbuildings by Medora Manca. SHSND 1972.91
Right: A State Historical Society drone image of the same location, June 2025.

Left: Watercolor painting landscape by Medora Manca. SHSND 1982.29.73
Right: State Historical Society drone image of the Chateau de Morès, June 2025. Note the Badlands formations depicted in the painting above are visible in the background. View is to the east.

Aerial photography is a valuable tool that allows us to both document the history of Medora (the city) and appreciate how Medora (the artist) interpreted the beauty of western Dakota around her. A view of the area from the air is a unique way to further appreciate Medora’s adventurous spirit and admire the way she expressed herself through art.

Since the name of our agency is the State Historical Society of North Dakota, I’m sure many people believe we are only interested in “old” things. But that’s not true. We are just as committed to preserving today, and even tomorrow, especially in this digital age.

The North Dakota State Archives has a vast and robust 2D collection stretching from the Dakota Territory days of the 1860s, ’70s, and ’80s into the mid-20th century. Now, in addition to those eras, we are on a mission to gather and preserve materials from the 1970s to the present. These materials might not feel historic, but they are crucial to sharing the story of North Dakota and capturing everyday lives here for future generations.

While visiting my parents recently, I pulled out hundreds, maybe thousands, of photographs my mother had taken of me and my siblings while we were growing up in the 1980s, ’90s, and early 2000s. As I flipped through the many memories, I began to feel the same awe I experience when looking at similarly themed photos in the State Archives collections. Both sets of photos showed people dressed in their Sunday best, dolled up for dances, attending community events, standing with their siblings, and students in desks at school. I decided to gather some of these everyday photos of my family to donate to the State Archives so that people in 60, 80, or 100 years can experience the same awe.

Everyday photos from yesterday? You may wonder why these would be important to the State Archives. But we make it our mission to preserve and share stories from all North Dakotans from all time periods. Just because something is recent doesn’t mean we shouldn’t save it. We, as a society, must commit to preserving the now to ensure future generations will understand the past and see themselves in history.

So what kinds of materials are we looking for? Photos, videos, posters, programs, yearbooks, letters, diaries, screenshots of instant messages, emails, social media—anything that documents the life of North Dakotans. Below are a few of the categories we are particularly keen to collect.

1. Family moments: These could be holidays, birthdays, family portraits, and special moments. They capture cultural traditions, relationships, and celebrations through the decades.

The author with her father welcomes her new baby brother in 1996. This photo offers a glimpse into 1990s fashion, newborn care, and the hospital room design of the decade. SHSND MSS 11674-00059

2. Sporting events: Whether youth leagues, high school championships, or amateur events, sports photos show what we played, how we played, and the stylish uniforms we wore.

IMCA Stock Cars lined up for the feature race at the 2024 Dakota Classic Modified Tour in Mandan. This photo captures what North Dakotans did for fun in 2024 and offers future researchers a look at car styles, paint schemes, and local culture. SHSND MSS 11674-00103

3. Daily life: These are time capsules of everyday experiences, showing the clothing, furniture, and social interactions of the era.

The author’s mom and brother enjoy an evening bike ride in 1987. Photos like this help us study 1980s house styles, landscaping trends, light fixtures, window designs, and, of course, everyday fashion. SHSND MSS 11674-00071

4. Community events, organizations, and businesses: These could include parades, festivals, church picnics, 4-H meetings, civic clubs, even street views and business fronts. They represent the spirit and values of our towns and neighborhoods.

The author poses with her 4-H demonstration “Cookie Dough To Go.” This photo offers a glimpse into early 2000s youth programs, showcasing 4-H activities, uniforms, classroom setup, and cookie recipes of the time. SHSND MSS 11674-00004

5. Personal perspectives on major events: These are newsworthy happenings as seen through your lens. What did it feel like at the time? How was it experienced locally? Such materials personalize and deepen our connections to history.

A family sandbags their home during the 1997 Red River flood in Fargo. This photo shows more than just flood mitigation—it documents how families came together in a time of crisis and provides a snapshot of neighborhood layout, vehicles, clothing, and daily life in 1997. SHSND MSS 11674-00069

One day, people will want to know what volleyball looked like in 2007, how North Dakotans protected homes from floods in 1997, or what families did for fun in 1987. What we experience and participate in today is important to document. Take a look through your family photos (both print and digital) to enjoy the nostalgia and see today’s history. For more information on donating to the North Dakota State Archives’ collections, visit history.nd.gov/data/donate_archives.html.

When Meriwether Lewis and William Clark were staying at Fort Mandan during their famous expedition in winter 1804, they often traded blacksmith work with the local Mandan and Hidatsa villages in exchange for surplus farm crops. The Mandan and Hidatsa people had a long history of trade. French, British, and Spanish fur traders had established trade with the local people for at least a century prior. But trade among the Indigenous nations of North America goes back much further.

The villages along the Missouri River were part of a trade network among various Indigenous nations that stretched across the continent. People traded natural resources found in each region. The area along the Knife River offered flint. Raw copper came from the Great Lakes region. Shells were traded from the Pacific, Atlantic, and Gulf coasts. And the Rocky Mountains were a source of obsidian.

The Lewis & Clark Interpretive Center in Washburn features examples of archaeological remains found at former village sites, including trade goods such as copper projectile points and ornaments, shell pendants, and obsidian arrowheads.

Archaeological evidence suggests that this trade had occurred for many centuries prior to contact with European fur traders and explorers. One archaeological site, the Menoken Indian Village State Historic Site east of Bismarck, dates to the Late Plains Woodland period, around A.D. 1200. Archaeological digs at the site have revealed artifacts made of these same resources, including coastal shells, copper, and obsidian. Experts believe these resources were being traded through down-the-line exchange, a practice where recipients of supplies keep a portion and pass the remainder forward.

The Lewis & Clark Interpretive Center in Washburn stands at this crossroads where commerce and culture once intersected. Some of our exhibits showcase the resources from this area that would have been offered for trade. Programs such as our tour of Fort Mandan State Historic Site offer hands-on education into the role played by these trade networks in President Thomas Jefferson’s goals for expanding U.S. commerce. During the tour, we explore not only Jefferson’s mission but also the impact it had on the Native American people here. The Interpretive Center’s exhibit on Fort Clark explores the continued exchange of culture and trade 30 years after the expedition, diving deeper into the implications of westward expansion and the negative effects that came with it.

Lewis and Clark were witness to this exchange not far from this site. They saw firsthand a trade of knowledge, resources, and culture already taking place between the Mandan and Hidatsa nations and the fur traders. This not only aided the expedition but was one of the reasons they selected this area to be their winter home. To explore more about this trade and the fascinating history of the area, plan a visit to the Lewis & Clark Interpretive Center and Fort Mandan State Historic Site.

I have been fascinated with and interested in cars my entire life—hot rods, muscle cars, trucks, race cars, all of them. I grew up in Michigan, and my earliest historical interests in Great Lakes maritime history are tied to the state’s automobile industry. Most of the freighters that captivated my imagination hauled taconite pellets (processed iron ore) to the steel and automobile factories in the Rust Belt cities of Detroit, Cleveland, Toledo, Erie, Gary, and Pittsburgh. Ford’s colossal River Rouge complex took in raw materials at one end and spit out cars at the other end. In fact, the SS Edmund Fitzgerald was en route to deliver 26,000 tons of taconite to the massive Zug Island Terminal at the confluence of the Rouge and Detroit rivers when it sank in a 1975 storm. Michigan was built by and for the automobile industry. Everywhere you looked in Michigan when I was a kid, you were reminded of that.

My love of cars was piqued as a teenager growing up in Oscoda, Michigan. Here, I take my 1972 Chevy Nova Super Sport out for a spin, 1986.

The State Historical Society of North Dakota has an impressive transportation collection. While it is not a large car collection, it is an interesting one, representing the automobile industry across much of its storied history, including the early 20th century when the United States boasted more than 200 makers. Surprisingly, electric cars have been a part of that history all along, well before Tesla arrived on the scene. We even have a foreign car in the collection to represent the import market.

In his book, “Lost Car Companies of Detroit,” Alan Naldrett categorizes cars and their manufacturers into a number of distinct eras. The State Historical Society is lucky to have representation in each of these except the Postwar era.

Veteran: 1890s and before
Brass: 1900s-1915
Vintage: 1915-1935
Prewar: 1936-1941
War: 1942-1951
Postwar: 1952-1959
Classic: 1960-1985
Modern: 1985-present

I am going to put the 1900 Holland Special in the Veteran era because it looks like a vehicle from this time due to its tiller steering wheel. For many years, the Holland was on exhibit at the North Dakota Heritage Center & State Museum. In the Brass era, we have a fantastic Glide Model 36-42 Five Passenger Touring car made in Peoria Heights, Illinois. It’s in rough shape but came to us due to its association with and use in Hebron.

1927 Essex coupe. SHSND 13543

We have several great Vintage era vehicles. Of course, the 1929 Erskine is on exhibit in the Inspiration Gallery at the State Museum, but we also have a really cool 1927 Essex. This tiny two-passenger coupe was the first widely affordable closed cab automobile. Made by Detroit’s Hudson Motorcar Co., the Essex is equipped with a six-cylinder motor generating an astonishing for the time 55 horsepower! It was a very fast little car. In fact, an Essex set a record for 50 hours straight at over 60 mph at a Cincinnati speedway in 1929. Incidentally, Hudson Motor Car Co., which produced these cars, was named after the silent partner in the company, J.L. Hudson of Detroit department store fame. Hudson cars were the first to have self-starters. When the starters got fussy, owners had to hand-crank them, bringing the term “cranky” into our vocabulary. We also have a 1934 Chevrolet pickup that I am particularly fond of due to its history with the agency. Russell Reid, one of my predecessors as director, purchased the truck for agency use from the Civilian Conservation Corps in 1939, and it has been with us ever since.

Our 1937 Lincoln Zephyr is an 88-year-old marvel of automotive design. SHSND 1973.44.1

Illustrating the Prewar era is the agency’s 1937 V12-powered Lincoln Zephyr. Named after Zephyrus, the Greek god of the west wind, this beautifully styled car has suicide rear doors and headlamps flawlessly integrated into the front fenders. To provide a glimpse into the War era cars, I chose the 1950 Pontiac Chieftain Deluxe four-door sedan. This car was purchased new by Gerald and Alma Matthiesen of Bismarck and later donated by their daughter Elaine White.

1950 Pontiac Chieftain Deluxe. SHSND 1986.138.1

We have several great choices from the Classic era. The 1961 Lincoln Continental is roughly 300 feet long, nearly as wide, and as luxurious as a royal palace. For the more common folk, the collection contains a 1961 Volkswagen Beetle. Everyone knows this little four-cylinder, rear engine, air-cooled wonder. I always thought these economical cars were roomy for their size. We all had a friend with the iconic “Bug.” Our vehicle from the Modern era is former North Dakota Secretary of State Al Jaeger’s 1986 Pontiac Parisienne, which he purchased new from Selland Motors in Fargo. This car was used in both his 1992 and 1996 campaigns.

Former Secretary of State Al Jaeger donated this 1986 Pontiac to the State Historical Society in 1998. SHSND 1998.506.1

Of course, we have other cars, trucks, and wagons, but those will have to wait for a future blog post. Stay tuned!

Thirty-seven years later, I pose with that same Chevy Nova, now restored to its original color, after winning a people’s choice trophy at a Bismarck car show, 2023.

If you’ve been to the North Dakota Heritage Center & State Museum, you’ve probably noticed the giant sea turtle that hangs from the ceiling as you walk through the Underwater World section of the Adaptation Gallery: Geologic Time. Every time I walk by this turtle, whose scientific name is Archelon ischyros, I think about the fun fact that it was about the size of a Volkswagen Beetle. That’s massive!

Now that we have a staff member whose focus is digital interactives, I had an idea for making the Archelon fossil cast and a Volkswagen Beetle come to life as animated versions of themselves to tell you about our Archelon. I pitched the idea to my boss, and she loved it. I then talked to my team member who would be working on the project. She was very excited and started her research and design right away.

She reached out to one of the paleontologists with the North Dakota Geological Survey to make sure she got the look and colors of the Archelon right. She also got a few interesting tidbits, such as where our Archelon was found, from the paleontologist to include in the animation. We geared the animation toward children, but we hope everyone enjoys it.

We don’t want to give too much away, so this is where the story ends. The animation is now up and running on a touchscreen in the gallery near our Archelon. Stop in for a visit to see it.