This North Dakota Downtown Is Made For Strolling

Should you stumble onto the streets of Valley City, consider yourself extremely lucky, as it is widely regarded as the most beautiful town in North Dakota. The Sheyenne River winds directly through town, earning Valley City the nickname “City of Bridges” due to many bridges stretching across the water. This includes the City Park Foot Bridge, which connects Main Street to Valley City Park and contributes to the town’s walkability.

Main Street branches up to Central Avenue, where the Barnes County Historical Society Museum showcases the town’s World War II heritage, as Valley City is the only community in North Dakota designated a World War II Heritage City. Valley City pairs pedestrian-only footbridges with its historic core to produce a downtown that was designed to be navigated on foot.

Start in City Park

Before you go anywhere, spend some time in Valley City Park and admire the Sheyenne River as it flows through town. Valley City Park was formerly a zoo and now features a playground, a 9-hole disc golf course, and walking trails that connect to the North Country Trail, the longest trail in the National Trails System. The bandshell comes into play on Wednesdays in the summer months, where Music in the Park is hosted. Listen to the music of some of the best artists in the region. The event is held annually, typically running from June to August, starting at 7:15 pm every Wednesday.

Get Situated on Main Street

Cross the City Park Foot Bridge to access Main Street within downtown Valley City. Make the Rosebud Visitor Center your first stop on Main Street, as it is directly across the road from the park’s footbridge. Here you will gain valuable insight into the area’s history, specifically its railway heritage, through exhibits such as an 1881 Northern Pacific railcar, perfectly preserved down to its original furnishings. Other exhibits detail how early pioneers and settlers utilized the land for agricultural and farming use.

The Wild Prairie Bakery on Main Street will fuel you for your travels on foot around downtown with coffee, breakfast pastries, and other baked goods. Or, if you arrive in town later, they also have lunch items available on the menu.

History on Central Avenue

Turn onto Central Avenue to reach the Barnes County Historical Society Museum, which has a little bit of everything on display. From the remains of an 18-foot-long Triceratops discovered in South Dakota to a scale model of the Hi-Line Bridge and one of the oldest registered cars in North Dakota, the museum is packed with fun, one-of-a-kind artefacts from North Dakota’s history. It also hosts the Timepiece Gift Shop so tourists can take home a souvenir for their friends and family.

Additionally, they have exhibits detailing Valley City’s recognition as North Dakota’s only World War II heritage city when the Hi-Line Bridge was guarded around the clock due to its role in transporting supplies and troops around the country.

Tour Historic Bridges

Afterward, go on a self-guided walking tour of Valley City’s eight historic bridges. Go back down Central Avenue towards the water, where the VCSU Footbridge connects Valley City State University to the rest of the city. As a three-span, 150-foot-long suspension bridge, it is the only one of its kind to exist in North Dakota.

Once you have crossed over onto the VCSU campus, go a little further to get to Medicine Wheel Park, a 30-acre green space. Here you will find the impressive medicine wheel, which measures 213 feet in circumference and has 28 spokes stemming from its center, representing the number of days in the lunar cycle. Learn more about the lunar cycle by reading the five interpretive panels around the wheel.

Back on Main Street East, the Rainbow Bridge, although not exclusively a pedestrian-only walkway, stands as a testament to 20th-century engineering, with the concrete rainbow arch supporting its weight. It is the only one of its kind in North Dakota, and in 1997, it was placed on the National Register of Historic Places.

Similar North Dakota Downtowns

Regardless of how beautiful Valley City is, it is not the only downtown in North Dakota that is easily accessible on foot. Jamestown, North Dakota, is similar to Valley City, as the James River flows directly through it. The town also has its own park right on the bank of the river. Klaus Park encompasses 20.89 acres of riverfront green space, with enough facilities to fill an entire afternoon. Key facilities include an 18-hole disc golf course, picnic shelters and tables, and playground equipment, making it suitable for the whole family.

Minot is laced with the Souris River, which has formed multiple oxbow lakes within the city. Minot also has an interesting heritage of its own, which is waiting to be discovered at Scandinavian Heritage Park. The park is full of remembrances and replicas from all five Scandinavian and Nordic countries, including a full-scale replica of a Stave Church.

Stroll The Streets Of Valley City

With a blend of natural scenery, historic charm, and multiple bridges dotted around town, Valley City makes for some easy strolling. The town’s infrastructure lets you follow the course of the river through town as you visit historic bridges like the Rainbow Bridge or enjoy green spaces like Valley City Park. With such pedestrian-friendly streets and lavish green spaces, it’s no wonder that Valley City is North Dakota’s most beautiful town.