North Dakota Historical Society Suffers Flood Damage

A historical society on the North Dakota State Fairgrounds has sustained at least $2.5 million in damage from this year’s Minot flooding.

Site Director Rev. David Jones tells the Minot Daily News that historical documents dating back Ward County’s first settlers, old photographs and other valuable artifacts will need to be packed and shipped to other locations for safekeeping.

The historical society’s headquarters in the Samuelson House was extensively damaged.

Board member Bob Pederson says volunteers managed to move furniture and other items to the second floor of the house, but the main floor took on 4 to 5 feet of water.

Pederson says historical society members were given little time to pack up items on the grounds before the sirens signaled the evacuation order.