Discover Nelson: Culture, History and Recreation

Get to know Nelson through the stories of its communities, art projects and diverse recreational opportunities. If you’d like to combine regional history with active breaks, there are several ways to do so: a self-guided audio tour, historic buildings and activities ranging from walking trails to golf. The topics span stories from across the county as well as individual buildings and activities.

Art and Stories from the County

The Nelson County Talking Trails are an expert-designed, self-guided tour with 20 audio recordings. They tell stories of the history, culture and heritage of communities throughout Nelson County. The focus is not on a single place, but on stories from different communities across the county.

The work of the Nelson County Arts Council also offers a glimpse into regional art. The council hosts the annual Stump Lake Fine Arts Youth Camp for students in grades 3 through 12. It also hosts one of North Dakota’s largest juried art shows and art sales. Its offerings therefore include both an annual program for young art enthusiasts and a juried exhibition and sale.

For the Nelson County Barn Quilt Trail, painted quilt patterns are displayed on agricultural buildings, businesses, garages and homes. The project’s mission was to create North Dakota’s first “quilt trail.” The patterns and the trail’s intended role are two distinct aspects of this art project: decorating various types of buildings and aiming to create the state’s first quilt trail.

Historic Buildings and Keepsakes

The A.M. Tofthagen Library-Museum traces its origins to a donation in 1926, when Amun Tofthagen gave $5,000 to build the building. The collection includes a peace pipe that Mr. Tofthagen smoked with Sitting Bull in 1889. The story of the building therefore encompasses both its specific construction history and a keepsake with a precisely identified historical connection.

The Old Settlers’ Pavilion is also known as the Stump Lake Pavilion. This large recreational meeting place dates to the early 1920s. It has been used for public social events and gatherings ever since, and it is still frequently used for this purpose today. Both its long history of use and its continued use contribute to its significance as a gathering place.

Stump Lake Village includes two log cabins relocated there from the Nelson County area, as well as a church, a school and a railroad depot. Stump Lake Village has paved walking paths and a pavilion.

Walking Trails, Golf and Nature

Stump Lake Park has walking paths and a miniature golf course; the park also has a café. If you plan to visit the café, check its hours in advance. Walking and miniature golf offer two different recreational options without requiring you to plan a longer activity.

Lakota Rock Creek Golf Course is a public 9-hole golf course with grass greens and has been open since 2003. You can plan golf as a standalone activity alongside walking trails or miniature golf.

Fishing is available at Stump Lake. In the wider Nelson County region, the lake is part of the Devils Lake chain.

Stump Lake National Wildlife Refuge was established by President Theodore Roosevelt in 1905. It was North Dakota’s first national wildlife refuge and was established as a protected area and breeding ground for native birds. Its history and the protection of native birds shape the refuge’s connection to nature.

The islands of Stump Lake National Wildlife Refuge are flooded due to high water levels and are not open to the public. Check visitor information again before traveling; this restriction applies to the islands.

Discover more destinations: Lakota, Morton County, Pierce County, Ramsey, Williams County, Richland County, Stutsman, Mckenzie County.

For the main travel overview: North Dakota.