Dakota Datebook

By Prairie PublicSociety & Culture

Dakota Datebook episodes

August 02, 2023 August 2: McKenzie County Mystery
Today is another story in the life of a young Lutheran preacher called to McKenzie County from St. Louis a century ago, but a murky one shrouded in mystery – complete with a cave, skeletons and Buffalo Bill Cody!
3 min
August 01, 2023 August 1: Eric Sevareid’s Canoe Adventure
North Dakota has produced several acclaimed journalists, including Velva native Eric Sevareid, who was a CBS Evening News correspondent and commentator. Among his earliest writings is his account of a canoe adventure as a young man.
3 min
July 31, 2023 July 31: Teachings of Our Elders - Kevin Finley on Boarding Schools
North Dakota Native American Essential Understanding Number Five is about tribal policies, treaties, and sovereignty. It states, “Native people practice self-determination, developing tribal policies, and practicing political activism. Despite a history of US policies and treaties that have often been detrimental, native people are members of sovereign nations that predate the US Government."
3 min
July 28, 2023 July 28: Cure-alls, Salves, and Snake Oil
Patent medicines were wildly popular in America during the nineteenth and early twentieth centuries. They were non-prescription preparations protected by a trademark and advertised with a trade name.
4 min
July 27, 2023 July 27: North Dakota Capitol’s Monkey Room
Perhaps the most whimsical room in the North Dakota Capitol is the “monkey room.” The room is a small hallway that serves as a private entrance for the Secretary of State to his or her office on the first floor. A Grand Forks carpenter built the room in 1933 using a method called bookmatching, which mirrors two surfaces. He was paid 80 cents an hour for his work.
3 min
July 26, 2023 July 26: The Apostle of Good Roads
America’s rural roads left a great deal to be desired in the early 20th Century. They were constructed of gravel or dirt, made muddy in rainy weather, dusty in dry weather, and impossible during heavy snow. Cities fared better, with roads much more likely to be paved.
3 min
July 25, 2023 July 25: When Jack Benny Visited Fargo
If you are of a certain age, you remember the talents of Jack Benny (1894-1974), the famous comedian and violin-player who started out in vaudeville and then became successful in movies, radio, television, and nightclubs.
4 min
July 24, 2023 July 24: Teachings of Our Elders - Catherine Howard on the Circle of Life
In today's episode of Dakota Datebook, we'll hear about the importance of the circle of life from Spirit Lake Dakota Elder Catherine Howard.
4 min
July 21, 2023 July 21: Sculptor Tom Neary
On this date in 2000, sculptor Tom Neary installed a 14-foot-tall stainless steel sign at the intersection of highways 83 and 200 in Washburn. The sign, which weighs almost a ton, reads “Historic Washburn” above a scene of Lewis, Clark, and Sakakawea. The giant sign was commissioned by the Washburn Civic Club and gave Tom Neary a chance to put his mark on the town he lived in and loved.
4 min
July 20, 2023 July 20: Special Stained-Glass Window
The First Presbyterian Church in Fargo is remarkable for its Scottish Gothic Revival architecture. Lining the sanctuary are numerous stained-glass windows depicting Biblical figures and scenes. The first window, installed in the chancel in 1939, is a bit different from the others. Its symbolic design and personal motifs are in memory of Helen Huntoon and her newborn son.
3 min

About Dakota Datebook

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Sitting Bull to Phil Jackson, cattle to prairie dogs, knoefla to lefse. North Dakota's legacy includes many strange stories of eccentric towns, war heroes, and various colorful characters. Hear all about them on Dakota Datebook, your daily dose of North Dakota history.