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History at the MonDak

Since 1967, the MonDak Historical and Arts Society has been preserving the artifacts and heritage of the MonDak region (encompassing seven counties in eastern Montana and neighboring North Dakota) while supporting and promoting the arts in the community.

The Center currently houses a large collection of artifacts and archives that tell the story of life in the MonDak region since the first pioneers arrived in the late 19th century.

 

Permanent Exhibits: MonDak Pioneer Town

The basement of the Center is primarily devoted to an authentic recreation of an early 20th century MonDak Pioneer Town. In our basement you can step into the past, stroll the boardwalks and visit the first Post Office in Dore, ND, stop by the garage to buy some gas for 23 cents a gallon, and check to see if your train will leave on time at the Sidney Rail Station.

History Highlights: Rotating Exhibits

Only a fraction of our collections are on display in, or even relevant to, the MonDak Pioneer Town. To allow the public to experience other facets of MonDak history and see some items from the rest of our collections, we are also always working on new rotation exhibits. You can view some of them here on our website. History Makers highlights a handful of colorful characters who have left a distinct mark on history in the MonDak region, and Technology through Time uses the Center's collections of toasters, typewriters and cameras to document the evolution of these important innovations.

Research Resources

If you are looking for information about the history of the MonDak region and the people who called it home, you have come to the right place. The Center houses the Lillian Anderson Jensen Research Library, which is the largest research library in the region. It includes archives and newspapers from the area dating back to 1890 as well as an ever growing collection of Heritage Cards for genealogical research, a substantial archive of original photographs, and a large selection of reference works to supplement your research.