Discover Walsh: History, Churches, and Landscape

The collection of historic buildings and artifacts illustrates life in earlier times. Those interested in regional history can explore different types of buildings and evidence of everyday life in context.

Everyday Life and History in Buildings

In addition to the farmhouse, Heritage Village includes outbuildings, a log cabin, and a depot with a galley. The collection also includes a taxidermy workshop and a carousel. The different buildings and objects offer various ways to explore history, from living and working to community spaces such as the country church.

The Walsh County Historical Museum is located in the former Minto School. The school building was constructed from bricks made in Minto in 1895. The museum recreates businesses from earlier times, including a general store, a blacksmith shop, a saloon, an ice cream parlor, a photography studio, a beauty salon, and a dental office. The exhibit thus takes visitors through different aspects of business and everyday life in the past.

Churches and Architecture

St. Joseph’s Chapel was built in 1907 and is one of the smallest chapels in the United States. Located by the roadside, it brings the congregation and visitors together for worship each year. St. Stanislaus Church was built in 1901 in the Gothic Revival style. Its interior features 19 stained-glass windows, numerous statues of saints, a canopy-covered pulpit, and carved confessionals. Visitors interested in sacred architecture can look out for various details in the buildings’ design and furnishings.

The St. Stanislaus Church Historic District includes the church, rectory, and cemetery, as well as St. Anthony Academy, built in 1920. Another Gothic Revival church is North Trinity Church, built near Nash in 1893. St. Stanislaus Church and North Trinity Church showcase different expressions of Gothic Revival design, inviting visitors to look beyond individual buildings and take in their architectural features during a stay.

Waterscapes and Historic Trails

Homme Dam is a 185-acre reservoir on the South Branch of the Park River. There is a fishing pier at the dam, and the recreation area offers boating opportunities. The waterscape provides a change of pace from the museums and churches. If you are planning a boat trip, check the current conditions in advance.

Historic Elmwood House is set on 20 acres in an oxbow of the Park River in Grafton. Historic landforms also shape the region: the Ridge Trail Historic District is a 47.7-acre historic trail system in Pembina and Walsh Counties. It follows a natural escarpment formed by glacial Lake Agassiz. In the wider region, the Red River North Trail System encompasses Pembina and Walsh Counties. Its eastern section follows the Red River and the forests from Park River to Hoople.

Planning Your Visits

The Walsh County Historical Museum’s seasonal hours include Sundays and holidays from noon to 5 p.m., from the Sunday before Memorial Day through the last Sunday in September. Check in advance whether these hours are current for your visit. Special group tours at Walsh County Heritage Village are available by appointment; check before traveling whether an appointment is possible. Visits to Historic Elmwood House are also by appointment only. Confirm access in advance as well.

Plan each visit with its specific conditions in mind.

Discover more destinations: Grafton, Bottineau County, Foster County, Mercer, Billings County, Burleigh County, Ward, Lamoure County.

For the main travel overview: North Dakota.