6 Little Known Museums In North Dakota Where Admission Is Free

This gorgeous mansion is over 100 years old and has been converted into a museum with tons of history to discover inside. This isn't just a house with period-accurate room set ups, it has different rooms for different things. From scale models of Jamestown to railroad history to a library - it has a bit of everything, and it's entirely free to visit.

The Stutsman County Memorial Museum is located at 321 3rd Ave. SE, Jamestown, ND 58401. It is open throughout Memorial Day to Labor Day each year.

This entirely free museum is located in the historic, bridge-filled Valley City. Not only can you find a lot of information and displays about the city, its bridges, the people that have lived there and what they had in their lifetimes all those decades ago, but even a triceratops. It originally was home to Bob the triceratops, one of the largest and most complete triceratops skeletons ever found and assembled. It was found in North Dakota and made its home in this museum first and for a time before moving on to another museum elsewhere. However, Gundy, another triceratops dinosaur fossil, has taken Bob's place and keeps people coming back to see it - and you can, too, for free!

The Barnes County Historical Society Museum is located at 315 Central Ave. N, Valley City, ND 58072.

The Roughrider State's history is deeply intertwined with the railroad, so a railroad museum is a fantastic way to learn not only about trains but about the state. Luckily for us North Dakotans, there is a free museum to visit right in Mandan. You can walk the grounds outside and see actual train locomotives, cars, mini trains and tracks to ride on, or head into some of the buildings to see even more train history there. Even if you're not a train enthusiast, you can easily enjoy a visit here.

The North Dakota State Railroad Museum is located at 3102 37th St. NW, Mandan, ND 58554. It is open throughout Memorial Day to Labor Day each year.

The Fort Union Trading Post is so much more than your average museum. It is like truly stepping back in time and experiencing what this place would have been like over a century ago. The fort consists of quite a few buildings, fort walls, towers, teepees, cannons, and more. Plus, it is located in a beautiful spot right along the Missouri River. This is a fun one to visit not only for the artifacts and structures, but also the natural scenery - and it's all free.

The Fort Union Trading Post is located at 15550 Highway 1804, Williston, ND 58801.

Did you know that the North Dakota Heritage Center, a museum right on the capitol grounds in Bismarck, is free to visit? This large museum has pretty much everything in the state's history. From the days of the dinosaurs to when the land was being settled by immigrants, you can learn about it all for no cost.

The North Dakota Heritage Center is located at 612 E Boulevard Ave., Bismarck, ND 58505.