By Andrea Winkjer Collin "The story of North Dakota begins with geology." This is the opening sentence in Professor Elwyn B. Robinson's "History of North Dakota," which remains the definitive history of the state 46 years after its publication. The challenges of the varied land formations created by this geology, along with Northern Plains weather patterns, have dominated the history of the settlement of the state. This land and weather have dictated that those conquering these challenges possess the legendary pioneer spirit which sets them apart from the ordinary. About those pioneers who challenged the Great Plains, Robinson wrote, "Pioneering in North Dakota, with its hardships, dangers, and isolation, as well as its opportunities, placed a premium on certain traits: courage, optimism, energy and ambition, aggressiveness, and compassion." The fact that today North Dakota is the nation's largest producer of more than a dozen crops is testament to the fortitude and innovation of its state agriculture pioneers. But a different brand of pioneer has been needed to solve the mystery of tapping the wealth of another commodity left by North Dakota's geological formations -- its energy resources, especially oil. It was 61 years ago on April 4, 1951, when the Clarence Iverson #1 well, located four miles south of the Williams County town of Tioga, put North Dakota on the map as an oil-producing state. The challenge that followed has been how to produce these vast oil reserves to be commercially successful. One of these pioneers is Harold Hamm, chairman and chief executive officer of Continental Resources, Inc., which today is the largest leaseholder in the Bakken oil field in North Dakota and Montana.
Posted 5/09/12 (Wed) read more »
The State Historical Society of North Dakota (SHSND) has hired Great Plains Exhibit Development Joint Venture to assist SHSND staff in designing, developing, and installing exhibits in the new galleries now under construction as part of the North Dakota Heritage Center expansion project.
Posted 3/06/12 (Tue) read more »
State Historical Society of North
Dakota Foundation
P.O. Box 1976
Bismarck, ND 58502-1976
(701) 222-1966
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