ND Cowboy Hall of Fame - Stories & Articles

RE-ENACTORS SET FOR MEDORA WESTERN HERITAGE DAYS

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June 6, 2008

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Darrell Dorgan 250-1833

-- RE-ENACTORS SET FOR MEDORA WESTERN HERITAGE DAYS --

The Medora Chamber of Commerce, the North Dakota Cowboy Hall of Fame, the State Historical Society of North Dakota, and the Theodore Roosevelt Foundation will host the Frontier Army of the Dakota (FAD) and shoot-out re-enactors in Medora. The group will appear as part of Medora’s Western Heritage Days Saturday June 14 and Sunday June 15.

The Frontier Army of the Dakota was formed in the 1970s to help preserve the heritage of the frontier military life of the Indian Wars period. The group, which has members from throughout the Dakotas, participates in live encampments, parades and military drills. Members (men, women and children), are attired in period clothing and use authentic equipment and guns.

While in Medora, FAD members will participate in the annual Flag Day Parade in Medora on Saturday, June 14, conduct demonstrations and drills at Chimney Park and in front of the North Dakota Cowboy Hall of Fame on Saturday and Sunday.

Also performing in Medora the 14th and 15th is the Cowboy Action Performers of Bismarck and Mandan. The dozen person group recreates gunfights of the old west. Group members are also historians and they dress in period costumes, carry period weapons and have performed in from of crowds across the state.

Special events will all also held at the Chateau de Mores to celebrate the 150th birthday of the Marquis de Mores. De Mores, who built the community of Medora and named it for his wife in 1883, also built a beef packing plant and operated a stage line between Medora and Deadwood. Free coffee and cake and programming will be offered during Western Heritage Days for the Marquis’ birthday party.

Other events will be held throughout Medora to celebrate Western Heritage Days.

Last year the Center of Western Heritage and Cultures, Native American, Ranching and Rodeo drew more than 25,000 visitors. The Medora facility, named North Dakota’s Tourist Attraction of the Year for 2007, is open daily from 10:00 a.m. until 8:00 p.m. (MDT) until the end of September. Its galleries and exhibits detail the history of the plains horse culture.

The facility is also used for meetings, reunions, weddings and other events. An attached patio provides room for more than 200 people for catered events. Catered food and beverage service is available.

Fundraising for the project continues. Dorgan says the Hall of Fame hopes to raise an additional $1 million over the next year to become debt free. Contributions for the project may be sent to the North Dakota Cowboy Hall of Fame, 1110 College Drive Suite 216, Bismarck, North Dakota 58501.