ND Cowboy Hall of Fame - Stories & Articles

COWBOY HALL OF FAME NAMED TOURIST ATTRACTION OF THE YEAR

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May 9th, 2007

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Or Electronic Release
Darrel Dorgan 250-1833

-- COWBOY HALL OF FAME NAMED TOURIST ATTRACTION OF THE YEAR --

The North Dakota Cowboy Hall of Fame, Center of Western Heritage and Cultures: Native American Ranching and Rodeo (NDCHF) have been named the 2007 North Dakota Tourist Attraction of the Year. The award was presented to Hall of Fame officials at the annual North DakotaTourism Conference held in Fargo last week.

The Hall of Fame recently opened for its second full season in Medora. NDCHF Executive Director Darrell Dorgan says he’s thrilled by the awarding of the prestigious Tourist Attraction of the Year Award. “More than 1,000 members worked for years to make the project a reality and the award says the job of preserving yesterday and today for tomorrow is getting done,” he said.

More than 90 individuals, ranches, events and rodeo animals have been inducted into the Hall of Fame the past nine years. Their stories are featured in the Hall of Honorees, the centerpiece of the 15,000-square-foot facility. Six additional inductees for the Hall of Honorees will be selected this summer.

In addition to the Hall of Honorees, the Hall of Fame features a theater and galleries that tell the story of the plains horse culture beginning with the Native Americans, continuing with open range ranches and homesteading and the sport of rodeo.

There is also a changing gallery that this summer will feature 12 of North Dakota’s top western artists who will have their paintings and prints on sale.

The Hall of Fame also begins a Wild West Series of events this weekend with a family traiL ride on Saturday and a Kids Showdeo on Sunday at the Medora Ranch-O-Rama Arena. Other events this season include the annual Cowboy Poetry Gathering and horse clinic Memorial Day weekend and team roping and barrel racing in June.

The National Day of the Cowboy will be celebrated on July 28; the annual induction program will be held August 4. NDCHF-sponsored events continue in September (list attached). For further information on how to participate in any of the Hall of Fame-sponsored events, please call 701-623-2000.

Work on the NDCHF began with a Dickinson organizational meeting 12 years ago. More than a 1,200 people from across the country have become charter and annual members.

Work on the 15,000-square-foot Center of Western Heritage and Cultures in Medora began in May 2004, and the doors opened mid-summer 2005. Last summer, more than 25,000 people from around the world visited the Medora center.

Dorgan says, ”We are currently accepting reservations for meetings, reunions, weddings and dances for summer 2007 and 2008. In addition to indoor meeting rooms that overlook the city of Medora, there is also a 5,000-square-foot patio where food and entertainment for more than 200 can be provided.”

Facility reservation information can be obtained by calling 701-623-2000 in Medora or the group’s Bismarck office at 701-250-1833. Additional information about the organization and the Center of Western Heritage and Cultures is also available at www.northdakotacowboy.com.

Fundraising for the $4-million project continues. The Hall of Fame hopes to raise an additional $500,000 to pay off all existing debts and grow the long-term foundation started in 2005 to pay for future maintenance and expansion.

Contributions for the project may be sent to the North Dakota Cowboy Hall of Fame, 1110 College Drive Suite 216, Bismarck, North Dakota 58501-1207.

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ELECTRONIC COPY OF THIS RELEASE, A PHOTO, AND COMPLETE LIST OF NDCHF MEDORA ACTIVITIES, ARE AVAILABLE ON THE HALL OF FAME WEBSITE AT www.northdakotacowboy.com.