Center for Heritage Renewal North Dakota State University
Welcome to the Center for Heritage Renewal, North Dakota State University. The center is a locus for applied research by historians serving the regional public and the historical profession. Developer of the center is Tom Isern, Professor of History. For standing information about the center, its mission, and its organization, see links at left of this home page. For ongoing projects, see links at right. For recent and occasional news, see the weblog framed into the center.

Organization Organization approved by State Board of Higher Education 17 May 2006 Developer & Director: Tom Isern Telephone 701-799-2942 Assistant Director: Aaron Barth Research Associates: Richard Rothaus, Andrea Mott, Robert Kurtz, Clarence Herz, Chris Hummel Contact the Center heritage.renewal@gmail.com Mailing Address PO Box 1390 Fargo ND 58107-1390 Mission The mission of the center for Heritage Renewal is to identify, preserve, and capitalize on the heritage resources of North Dakota and the northern plains. Objectives 1. To assist state agencies, private organizations, and the people of the state and region in generating prosperity and quality of life from heritage resources 2. To establish a center for expertise and action in the fields of historic preservation and heritage tourism 3. To provide opportunities for learning, employment, and internships for NDSU students (undergraduate and graduate) Institute for Regional Studies Administratively, the center is attached to the institute, reporting via the Dean of the College of Arts, Humanities, and Social Sciences. Archives Historic Architectural Survey of Bowman County Survey of Iron Cross Cemeteries in North Dakota Research on the Missouri Coteau Research on the Walla Theater Research on Whitestone Hill Battlefield Sharing Sites Heritage Trails - the center's Facebook group for grassroots heritage tourism 281: Great Plains Highway - the center's Facebook page for grassroots heritage tourism on Highway 281 ND 200: Highway at the Heart of North Dakota - for heritage tourism along this grand avenue Dakota War Dialog - discussion associated with the center initiative on the Dakota War in Dakota Territory Heritage Video - the center's YouTube site Heritage Image - the center's Flickr site Panoramio Account - used by the center to submit images to Google Earth Institutional Memberships The center is an institutional member of the following organizations: Preservation North Dakota American Association for State & Local History North Dakota Rural & Nature Tourism Association

Activities Ongoing projects and cooperative relationships that meet the mission of the CHR The Dakota War in Dakota Territory Battlefield research and public programming Centennials & Jubilees Celebrating North Dakota communities German-Russian Country Working with the Tri County Tourism Alliance to stimulate grassroots heritagde tourism Old-Time Threshing Shows Living history thrives at these celebrations of rural heritage Newcomer Narratives Who are the people repopulating our prairie towns? Why are they coming? And what do they contribute to the revitalization of our communities? Fall Suppers of the Northern Plains A study and celebration of a distinctive seasonal ritual Remembrance in Stone A heritage tourist's guide to historical monuments of the northern plains Great Books of the Great Plains The CHR, in cooperation with local communities and NDSU Extension, organizes book discussion programs emphasizing regional heritage and development. Ethics of History Discussions are underway with the Northern Plains Ethics Institute for a long-range project examining the ethics of doing history in a wide range of venues--amateur, professional, academic, public, local, international. Highways & Trails of the WPA Under a grant from the ND DoT, the CHR is working to update the 1938 WPA tours of North Dakota and put them online. Big Things Documentation of roadside landmarks of the Great Plains Ladbury Lectures The CHR assists and supports the Friends of Ladbury Church in presenting the annual Ladbury Lectures in the restored, historic church. Germans from Russia Heritage Center The CHR provides technical and professional support to the Dakota Memories Oral History Project of the GRHC. Center for Community Vitality The CCV, a program of NDSU Extension, receives assistance from the CHR for the project, "Building Community Vitality Through Arts & Heritage" Partners in the Field Northern Lights Arts Council Ellendale Area Arts Council Gorge Arts & Heritage Council