North Dakota is full of mysteries around every corner. Like any place, there are stories in everything – even the tragic ones. If you came across these odd ruins just outside of a town in eastern ND, you would probably be pretty perplexed. Most people have no idea they are out here and don’t know what the story behind them is. Let’s take a step back and see what happened on a single fateful day that resulted in this stone pillar to remain alone in a grassy field:

The city of Wahpeton, North Dakota in the southeast region of the state, is one of the last places you'd expect to find such an unusual monument and the tragic story behind it.
Andrew Filer/Flickr
Many of the residents aren't even aware it's there, just outside of town.
To explain these ruins, let's go back to the late 19th century - 1897 to be exact.
Wikimedia Commons
Back in those days, the circus coming into town was a big deal. It usually sprang up at night, made a big show all through the next day, and was gone just as quickly.

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If you head just outside of Wahpeton you'll come across this unusual stone pillar in a field.
heritagerenewal.org
A tall wooden pole once stood here: the main tent pole for the "big top" tent at the Ringling Brothers Circus when it visited Wahpeton that year. Around it, tons of workers were setting up for the next day.
Unfortunately, tragedy struck.
gopackgo2012/Tripadvisor
As a handful of laborers erected the main tent pole, lightning struck it. It cracked the pole and also knocked a dozen workers to the ground.
As the broken top of the tent pole fell, it crushed and killed two of the workers and injured one man badly enough that he later died as well.
heritagerenewal.org
This stone pillar was erected in the spot where the tragedy happened. It appears broken and cracked, just like the real one, for remembrance of the accident and the lives lost. Now, it is eerie ruins that anyone can visit to pay their respects.

The monument is located near the Riverside Cemetery at 8095 182nd Ave SE, Wahpeton, ND 58075.

This is just one of many secrets in the Peace Garden State that not a whole lot of people know about. Check out more of them here.

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