Friday, November 22, 2013

Historical Society recalls JFK's time in North Dakota

Here's a news release that Barb (Sheppard) Lang forwarded to this blog from an organization she has long been a part of: The North Dakota Historical Society. It ties in with the discussion we've been having around the 50th anniversary of President Kennedy's assassination in Dallas on November 22, 1963. Be sure to also see the remembrance from Diane (Sauer) Hughes and comments immediately below this post.

From the State Historical Society: Kennedy visited North Dakota five times from 1958 to 1963, both as a senator and president of the United States. During his final visit as president on Sept. 25, 1963, he gave a speech at the University of North Dakota in Grand Forks. Less than eight weeks later, he was assassinated. Video footage of Kennedy’s UND speech, as well as other rare videos and images from JFK’s visits to Dickinson, Bismarck, Jamestown, Fargo, and Grand Forks, are on display for the first time.

“JFK & North Dakota” is the first exhibit of the State Historical Society of North Dakota produced on an interactive multi-touch table. This computerized touch table allows users to easily search through documents, view photos, and watch video images. With a light tap or simple sweeping hand motion, visitors can view photos, documents, and turn the pages of a large digital scrapbook of JFK news clips.

"This exhibit gives visitors the opportunity to interact with new technology while exploring John Kennedy’s presence in North Dakota from 1958 to 1963,” says Kimberly Jondahl, Communications and Education director with the State Historical Society of North Dakota. “The new touch table relates history to technology, which can help bring the past to life and feel more relevant for younger visitors.”

The exhibit is located in Bismarck, N. Dak., close to the Museum Store near the ND Heritage Center entrance. The store features an assortment of JFK-related items including books, Kennedy White House music, t-shirts, mugs, puzzles, and more.

In addition, on display at the ND Heritage Center is “Prairie Churches,” a series of panels featuring photographs and text detailing diverse architectural styles and ethnic backgrounds of historic churches in North Dakota. This exhibit is based on a survey of nearly 2,000 churches statewide and can be viewed on the upper level mezzanine.

“JFK & North Dakota” and “Prairie Churches” are on display during regular ND Heritage Center visitor hours: 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Monday through Friday, and Saturday and Sunday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. For more information, call 701-328-1476.

4 comments:

Diane (Sauer) Hughes said...

I may have missed something in this article, but I didn't see anything to indicate where the ND Historical Society is located.

Interesting article; I'll have to make time to visit when I come to N.Dakota.

Larry Gauper said...

You're right, Diane. Good catch. I just added that the exhibit is located in Bismarck the North Dakota Heritage Center (on the grounds of the state capitol buildings).

Dale Rolfzen said...

whichMy memories of JFK are of my Commander In Chief. After finishing Air Force basic training I was sent to Yale University as a language student. Shortly after arriving there the Cuban missile crisis ocurred. In the springtime JFK was given an honorary degree from Yale and I had the honor of standing honor guard as he entered the proceedings. I will always remember his comment "Today I have the best of 2 worlds-a Harvard education and a Yale Degree". At the time of the assassination I was at Johnson AFB outside Tokyo. We were all stunned at the loss of our Commander in Chief.

Barb Sheppard Lang said...

Dale, what a very unique perspective you have about JFK! I don't know that any other of our classmates has been in such close proximity with President Kennedy. That is something you will never forget, I'm sure. It's still hard to believe that it has been 50 years . . .