North Dakota’s most popular attraction is the Wild West town of Medora. If you’re from North Dakota, you’ve probably seen the commercials, driven past the billboards, or perhaps even walked by a tourist information kiosk in your local mall about this town. But what is it that makes it so special? You probably know about its famous musical and beautiful location, but listed below are eight facts about Medora, North Dakota you might not already know.

1. This old west town in North Dakota is named after the wife of the Marquis de Mores, the Frenchman who founded it. Additionally, her name was derived from a poem that was popular at the time.
Andrew Filer/Flickr
After all of that, we have Medora, North Dakota!

Learn a little more about Medora's history in this YouTube video from Travel North Dakota:

2. The amphitheater where the famous Medora Musical happens is called the Burning Hills Amphitheatre.
Roderick Eime/Flickr
Before 1991, the theater was just a dirt hill with wooden logs to sit on for the audience, but it had a complete overhaul and is the beautiful theater it is today. The musical is one of the most popular things to do in Medora, North Dakota.
3. The town was founded entirely by the Marquis in 1883 when he spent a lot of money building stores, a hotel, his own huge house, the Chateau des Mores, and also started up a beef business.
Robert Blyth/Flickr
Despite creating a boom town at the time, it was only 3 years later that it all fell apart to financial ruin and he went back to France. The town, of course, remained.
4. The first dude ranch in the United States was made about five miles outside of Medora by the Eaton brothers.
upnorthmemories/Flickr

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5. Before there was the Medora Musical, there was a play about the life of Theodore Roosevelt's time in the badlands called Ol' Four Eyes presented in the original amphitheater.
Jasperdo/Flickr
6. Speaking of Roosevelt, it was his traveling to Medora to hunt bison that made him fall in love with the land, start two cattle ranches in the area, and spend so much time here.
Trent Jonas/OnlyInYourState
Later in his life, he would credit the North Dakota badlands as the "romance of [his] life" and the reason he became a successful president.
7. The same company that made Mr. Bubble, which happens to be one of the most popular brands of bubble bath soap of all time, was also responsible for restoring Medora and making it North Dakota's most popular tourist attraction.
roadsidepictures/Flickr
If you didn't know, Mr. Bubble was invented right here in the Peace Garden State.
8. Medora is the main gateway into Theodore Roosevelt National Park, which gets more than 600,000 visitors annually.
NPCA Photos/Flickr
The park receives hundreds of thousands of visitors every year - nearly equaling the population of the entire state. If you plan to explore the park, check out AllTrailsPlus for trail reviews and maps that you can download for offline use on your smartphone, as cell service is spotty in the park.

Medora, North Dakota is in Billings County near the Montana border. How many of these facts did you already know, and how many were new to you? Let us know in the comments!

This place is pretty awesome, so it’s no wonder why it’s the most popular attraction in the entire state. But if you’ve already done the Medora trip and you’re looking for some North Dakota hidden gems that are more off the beaten path, we have some for you.

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Medora, North Dakota

Jennifer Young | July 15, 2022

When visiting Medora, North Dakota, things to do are very easy to come by. What are three fun things to do in Medora?

Medora is the seat of Billings County, North Dakota and is the perfect destination for a day trip. Even though this North Dakota town is small, it still offers a variety of fun things to do, including the three things listed below.

1. Explore Theodore Roosevelt National Park.

This national park is the main reason why so many people choose to visit Medora. It offers incredible hiking trails and some of the most beautiful landscapes in North Dakota.

2. Visit the North Dakota Cowboy Hall of Fame.

While visiting this museum, you'll learn all about the cultures of Native Americans, frontiersmen, and more. You'll also get to learn all about the first men and women who referred to the American West as their home.

3. See the Medora Musical.

As you're watching this musical, you'll get to experience some of the best live entertainment Medora has to offer. There will be singing, dancing, and even a Theodore Roosevelt impersonator sharing history about the area.

Where can you visit to see unique pieces of Medora history?

There are many historic places in Medora, North Dakota. One of the town's most unique places with lots of history is the Chateau de Mores State Historic Site. The Chateau de Mores State Historic Site is a museum that celebrates the life and activities in North Dakota of Antoine de Vallombrosa, the Marquis de Mores. He had many enterprises, including a stagecoach line, refrigerated rail cars, a beef packing plant, and more. Most importantly, he founded the town of Medora in 1883. He named the town after his wife, Medora von Hoffman.

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Medora, ND 58645, USA