Historic Gems of Fargo-Moorhead

But despite its modern feel, the area holds on tight to its historical roots. From renovating old buildings to creating replicas of the churches and ships of their ancestors, the people of Fargo-Moorhead exhibit the community's commitment to preserving the past. Take a step back in time and explore some of Fargo-Moorhead’s historical gems.

Hjemkomst Ship

It’s no secret that many people in the Fargo-Moorhead area have Norwegian heritage. Local lutefisk dinners are common and lefse is often served in Concordia’s dining center. Many of the original settlers of the area sailed over from Scandinavia hundreds of years ago.

It was this image that inspired Robert Asp of Moorhead in the summer of 1971. Asp dreamed of building a Viking ship and sailing it to Norway, journeying back to the land of his ancestors. And over the next years, that dream became a reality. Asp built the ship nearby in the town of Hawley and then transported it to Duluth, Minn. It was named the “Hjemkomst,” which means “homecoming” in Norwegian. Asp was there when it was first set sail in the Duluth harbor but sadly died of cancer several months later.

However, his family decided to keep his dream alive and began to research and train for a trip to Norway in Asp’s Viking ship. And in May of 1982, they began the historic journey. Despite a fierce tropical storm and a cracked hull, the crew reached their final destination of Oslo, Norway, on Aug. 9. Greeted by thousands of excited locals and even the King of Norway, Asp’s dream was finally fulfilled. The Hjemkomst was transported back to Moorhead and now resides in the Hjemkomst Center, where visitors can learn more about its historic journey to Norway.

Hopperstad Stave Church Replica

Going back to the Viking age once more, it was around this time (the 1100s and 1200s) that Norwegian Stave churches were popular. A stave is a type of wooden post used to construct the churches. Today, only 28 of these churches remain in Norway, one of which stands in the town of Vik. And this church has a twin that happens to sit in Moorhead.

In 1997, experienced woodcarver Guy Paulson began the work of replicating the Hopperstad Stave church from Vik. The church was dedicated to the city of Moorhead in 1998 and is located next to the Hjemkomst Center. The 72-foot-tall replica is a sight to behold. Paulson paid attention to each detail, doing all the carving by hand. Visitors can take a guided tour through the church, imagining they’re back in 12th-century Norway.

Fargo Theatre

You can’t come to Fargo-Moorhead without hearing about the historic Fargo Theatre. Its lighted Fargo marquee out front is impossible to miss (and the subject of more than a few Instagram photos). Built back in 1926, it was a place to see a silent film with wonderful organ accompaniment or enjoy a vaudeville theatre show. Now beautifully restored, the theatre still captures the feel of the 1920s.

Today, it features independent, foreign and classic films and hosts concerts and other live events. They added a second, smaller theatre in 2009, allowing the venue to show more films. The Fargo Theatre is home base for the popular Fargo Film Festival held each year. The nonprofit organization is also proud to be listed on the National Register of Historic Places by the U.S. Department of the Interior.

Bergquist Cabin

Any buzz around town regarding houses probably refers to the newest, biggest, most expensive homes in the area. But have you ever considered which house might be the oldest? The building that holds that claim to fame is the Bergquist cabin, built in 1871, which can be found on its original site on the bank of the Red River of the North.

Swedish immigrant John Gustav Bergquist built the house himself almost 150 years ago. Bergquist was a jack of all trades. He worked on the railroad, farmed, sold milk door to door, and even made bricks with local clay. His cabin was restored in the 1970s by his grandson and great-grandson, and it has joined the Fargo Theatre on the National Register of Historic Places.

Comstock House

Located just down the street from Concordia College, the Comstock House certainly stands out among the surrounding homes. Solomon G. Comstock built this beautiful Victorian-style house in 1883 for his family. The 11-room home features several porches, oak doors and windows, and high-patterned chimneys.

Comstock, who was born and raised in Maine, moved to Moorhead in 1871 where he greatly contributed to the development of the area. He co-founded the First National Bank of Moorhead, started a successful law firm, and helped establish both the Bishop Whipple School and the Moorhead Normal School, which we now know as Concordia College and Minnesota State University Moorhead. Committed to ensuring the growth of his community, Comstock served four terms as a state representative, one as a state senator, and one term in the U.S. House of Representatives.

The house was donated to the Minnesota Historical Society in 1965 by Comstock’s son, George, and has since been restored to its 1883 appearance by the Comstock Historic House Society. Visitors can tour the home and learn about the rich history of the Comstock family.

Fargo Air Museum

We have explored historical gems that were built from the ground up and sailed across seas, but what about ones that have flown through the sky? Fargo’s Air Museum offers a unique look at history. Its dual hangar museum displays planes from modern unmanned drones to a recreation of a Wright Brothers’ flyer. In addition to the aircraft, you can explore military memorabilia and exhibits as well as one of the Midwest’s largest aviation libraries. The Air Museum is also known to be a “flying” museum, as many of the airplanes are still occasionally flown.

Restoration projects are another interesting aspect of the museum, including a BT-13 Valiant that was used for flight training circa World War II. Board members, volunteers, engineering students from area colleges, and other people who are just passionate about planes are working together on the project. This is another great example of the community coming together to preserve the past, and you can check it out across from the Fargodome.

^{Published August 2017}