9 Best Museums In North Dakota

North Dakota is a place where wide-open skies stretch for miles and stories are deeply woven into the land. From the rugged cliffs of the Badlands to the quiet charm of prairie towns, the state holds a rich blend of culture, history, and community. That spirit comes to life in museums across the state, each offering a unique way to connect with the past and present. Explore the creativity of local artists in Fargo, stand beneath a towering dinosaur fossil in Dickinson, or tour a French aristocrat’s summer home in Medora. The museums in these towns and cities offer an experience where North Dakota’s heritage, imagination, and character are shown in engaging and unexpected ways.

North Dakota Heritage Center & State Museum

North Dakota's official history museum is the North Dakota Heritage Center & State Museum in Bismarck, the state's capital. As one of the largest museums in the state, it features everything from exhibits on North Dakota’s geological past, including a life-sized cast of a Tyrannosaurus rex, to displays that touch on Native American culture, like a large-scale cyclorama depicting the Double Ditch Indian Village, a trading center built by Mandan Indians. In addition, the museum features a kid-friendly treehouse area, a restaurant, a museum store, and outdoor spaces, including event plazas, an amphitheater, and an arboretum trail.

After discovering the North Dakota Heritage Center & State Museum, retreat to Laughing Sun Brewing Co. More than just a brewery, the establishment is known for its menu of barbecue specialties, axe-throwing lanes, and weekly entertainment, ranging from open mic night to live bands.

Plains Art Museum

Plains Art Museum, housed in a renovated warehouse in downtown Fargo, spotlights local and regional artists. Ongoing installations range from a piece by Anne Labovitz that beautifully celebrates the connection between art and well-being to an empowering mural by Pasteur Mudende, inspired by a Toni Morrison quote on resilience, that honors Black women activists in the civil rights movement. Other museum highlights include rotating exhibits, artist-designed gardens, art gallery events and festivals, a multipurpose arts facility, and a gift shop.

From the Plains Art Museum, walk a few blocks to Broadway Square, a vibrant city park that hosts events like the Red River Market and the Downtown Fargo Street Fair. The park also has enjoyable seasonal activities, like a splash pad during the warmer months and an ice skating rink during the winter.

Dickinson Museum Center

The Dickinson Museum Center offers one of the best museum experiences in North Dakota. Inside are four distinctive attractions, including the Badlands Dinosaur Museum, home to North Dakota’s largest display of real dinosaur fossils, a working fossil lab, and interactive exhibits. Next, discover the Joachim Regional Museum, which showcases the history and art of Dickinson and southwestern North Dakota. Other sites inside the center include the Pioneer Machinery Hall, which features tools once used in the past, and Prairie Outpost Park, which has a dozen historic homes and buildings, with guided tours available from Memorial Day to Labor Day.

To explore more than just the Dickinson Museum Center, visit the nearby Patterson Lake Recreation Area for outdoor recreation, such as boating, swimming, fishing, picnicking, hiking, biking, and disc golf.

North American Bison Discovery Center

The North American Bison Discovery Center (formerly the National Buffalo Museum) is a must-see in Jamestown. Take a picture of the World's Largest Buffalo Monument, a giant 26-foot-tall, 60-ton sculpture, before diving into bison culture and natural history through interactive exhibits, such as life-sized reproductions of bison bones and organs. As a bonus, you can see a bison herd through the nearby pasture. The center also hosts events like the Great Bison Bash, a fundraiser that supports the center's small bison herd, educational offerings, and efforts to promote a sustainable bison population.

From the North American Bison Discovery Center, stroll through Frontier Village, which transports you back in time. While there, walk through a historic depot, take a stagecoach ride, or shop for unique items, antiques, and handmade goods from local artisans.

Pembina State Museum

The Pembina State Museum in Pembina offers a unique look at the rich cultural and historical heritage of northeastern North Dakota. Through engaging exhibits, the museum showcases the lives of its natives and the influence of the fur trade industry. In addition, one of the museum's main attractions is a seven-story observation tower that offers scenic views of the Red River Valley and surrounding farmlands. The museum also has a gift store with books on regional history and handcrafted gifts made by North Dakotans.

From the Pembina State Museum, drive out to the Pembina Gorge State Recreation Area, a top destination for outdoor recreation. While there, explore many trails suitable for hiking or mountain biking, enjoy a horseback riding adventure, or kayak along the Pembina River.

Chateau de Mores State Historic Site

Located in Medora, the Chateau de Mores State Historic Site is a historic house museum that honors the legacy of Antoine de Vallombrosa, the Marquis de Mores, a French nobleman who settled in the area in 1883. His ambitious ventures included a beef-packing plant, a stagecoach line, refrigerated railcars, and the founding of Medora. The site features over two dozen rooms filled with original furnishings, personal artifacts, and temporary and permanent exhibits. Engaging programs during the summer bring local history to life through live monologues based on historical documents.

Nearby the Chateau de Mores State Historic Site, visit De Mores Memorial Park, which features a bronze statue of the Marquis, or Chimney Park, which marks the remains of his once-thriving meatpacking operation.

Paul Broste Rock Museum

Driving through Parshall, you might not expect to stumble upon one of the country’s most impressive rock collections. But inside the Paul Broste Rock Museum, you're instantly drawn into the world of one man’s lifelong passion. Paul Broste, a local farmer and self-taught geologist, spent decades collecting rocks, minerals, and fossils from around the world, which you can find on display throughout the museum. Even the building itself, constructed from native stone, feels like it's part of an exhibit.

Just 15 minutes away, you can enjoy nature at its finest at the Parshall Bay Recreation Area on Lake Sakakawea. The area offers easy access to the water, camping, and scenic spots perfect for relaxing and taking in the views. Brendles Bay Resort adds to the experience with boat ramps, fish cleaning stations, playgrounds, fire pits, and a fully stocked convenience store.

Fargo Air Museum

The Fargo Air Museum adds an extra layer of excitement to any visit to Fargo and is often considered one of the best museums in North Dakota. Not only will you find a collection of vintage World War II warbirds to modern aircraft on display, but also a heartfelt experience as volunteers and staff, many of whom are pilots or veterans, share personal stories, behind-the-scenes insights, and fascinating bits of aviation history. While there, explore engaging activities, including a flight simulator, drone cage, paper airplane station, a kids' area, and an aviation library. Before you leave, stop by the museum store to pick up aviation-themed keepsakes and gifts.

Afterward, head to the Red River Zoo to see cold-climate animals like red pandas, grey wolves, Bactrian camels, Pallas cats, and North American river otters. The zoo also features a children’s zoo farm, which highlights heritage breeds and helps kids learn where their food comes from.

Visitor Center Museum at Fort Abraham Lincoln State Park

Fort Abraham Lincoln State Park, which overlooks the Missouri River, offers a truly immersive experience that brings the area’s rich past to life. Located in Mandan, the park is home to the Visitor Center Museum, which explores both the military and Native American stories that have shaped its land, from the reconstructed military buildings to the home of Lt. Col. George Custer, carefully restored to reflect the time before his final expedition to Little Bighorn. The area's On-A-Slant Village also provides a detailed look at the natives who lived here long before Fort Abraham Lincoln was built.

During your time there, stroll along the park’s scenic hiking and biking trails, which offer sweeping prairie views and chances to spot local wildlife. For a more relaxed outing, enjoy a riverboat cruise along the Missouri River.

Discover North Dakota's Best Museums

As you can see, these museums in North Dakota offer more than just exhibits. They provide memorable experiences that reflect the heart of their communities, connecting past and present in educational and inspiring ways. Whether you want to see life-size bison at the North Dakota Heritage Center & State Museum, learn about aviation history at the Fargo Air Museum, or explore Native American culture at the Visitor Center Museum at Fort Abraham Lincoln State Park, each one tells North Dakota's story and invites you to be a part of it.