North Dakota is one of those places that doesn’t get a ton of press, and honestly, I think that’s a good thing. After all, it’s pretty quiet around here, and I don’t think I’d have it any other way. That being said, there are a few fun, unique attractions in North Dakota that are totally worthy of a day trip from, you know, wherever. Take the Paul Broste Rock Museum, for example; this unique collection of rocks, minerals, orbs, and more is so intriguing that it’s worth a gander. Even if you’re not huge into rocks and minerals, I’m pretty sure you’ll find plenty of reasons to love it. It rocks (see what I did there? Okay, I’ll show myself out).

From the outside, it almost looks like a castle - but instead, it's a truly unique museum housed in a building that just plain makes sense.
Rodney Davidson/Google Local
It's the Paul Broste Rock Museum, and even if you're not huge into geology or minerals, it's still worthy of a day trip!
Located in a tiny town, this awesome collection was once the personal collection of one man: Paul Broste.
Rodney Davidson/Google Local
The museum was built in 1966 to display more than two and a half decades' worth of rock collecting (and art pieces beautifully crafted with some of it).
Broste was a farmer, a poet, a painter, and an artist with a flair for rock collecting.
Rodney Davidson/Google Local
Today, you can see the whole thing: a cornucopia of rocks, minerals, fossils, orbs, and other intriguing items in the same vein.

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Broste used some of his rocks and minerals - particularly the orbs - to craft gorgeous sculptures and centerpieces.
Erik Herman/Google Local
The collection comes from all over the world, with items from Brazil, the United States, Australia, Africa, and so many other places that you'll just have to visit to see it all. It's incredibly impressive that it was all amassed by one brilliant, if not eccentric, man.
Paul Broste passed away in 1975, but his incredible legacy lives on.
Justin “TheJuspar” Parkinson/Google Local
At one point, unable to keep up with costly building repairs and other bills, the museum closed its doors - but thankfully, it reopened in 1998 and is still in operation to this day, though it's now open seasonally.
You'll find the doors open from May 1 through Labor Day, Wednesday through Saturday, from noon to 4 p.m.
WILLIAM HARJO/Google Local
You'll want to take your time and really get in close. Examine each and every item in the place with intense wonder, and you'll find yourself somehow transported to a whole other planet.
A planet full of, obviously, plenty of rocks.
Brenda Jolley/Google Local

You’ll find more information about the jaw-dropping wonder that is the Paul Broste Rock Museum on the Visit Parshall website. Need a place to stay while you’re here? Check out all the offerings from our friends at VRBO! You never know what you’ll find. Do you have any favorite hidden gems in North Dakota worthy of a day trip? Tell me about ’em!

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Paul Broste Rock Museum, 508 Main St, Parshall, ND 58770, USA