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Mandan Heritage Plaza Foundation
For more information please e-mail
(c) 2010 Mandan Heritage Plaza Foundation. 411 west Main St. Mandan, ND 58554 |
Welcome to the Mandan Heritage Plaza Foundation Vision and Mission Mandan Heritage Plaza focuses on the creation of a public space centered around the original Mandan railway Depot and Beanery buildings. This will provide opportunities for special events and create a central hub for downtown Mandan. The reality of the situation is that we have two historic and beautifully-designed buildings, both icons in downtown Mandan, that are in need of some TLC. It would be a tremendous loss to let these historic buildings decay and ignore the huge opportunity in front of to restore them. Our goal is to create a space that not only provides an environment that stimulates the mind, but also stimulates the growth and restoration of downtown Mandan. It will provide a unique and professional space for its tenants, all of whom specialize in preserving, interpreting and presenting the special heritage of Mandan. Heritage Plaza will highlight the history of Mandan through building restoration and specially-designed panels that focus on the railroad in the city of Mandan.
History The railroad that spread across Dakota Territory in the late 1800s created many towns that are still thriving today, including Mandan. The railway provided a sense of community among the city’s residents, and was the main source of travel and commerce in Mandan’s early years. Railroad depots, spread far and wide across the Dakota prairie, were the life blood of early communities. The Mandan Depot and Beanery buildings were constructed in the 1930s after the original Northern Pacific Railroad Depot burned down. It was operated by the Burlington Northern Santa Fe Railroad until the 1970s, at which point the buildings and land were turned over to the city of Mandan. After being empty for some time, light renovations were done and the Depot became home to the Fort Abraham Lincoln Foundation, Five Nations Arts and, most recently, the Lewis & Clark Riverboat. The Beanery, originally a restaurant for passengers, has had many different occupants over the years. It now houses the Mandan Historical Society, Mandan Art Association and Mandan Progress Organization.
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