June 2, 2020
 

History Alive Programs Planned at Chateau de Morès State Historic Site

MEDORA, N.D. – Chateau de Morès State Historic Site will present its perennially popular History Alive programs again this summer. The free History Alive programs explore lives and times of decades gone by, combining theater arts with history. The 30-minute monologues are based on original letters, diaries, and other documents, many from the State Archives of the State Historical Society of North Dakota. Presentations are held on the Chateau veranda Saturdays and Sundays at 10:30 a.m., 1:30 p.m., and 3:30 p.m. (MT). Visitors are asked to follow the CDC's recommendations on social distancing and personal hygiene while visiting state historic sites.

A 98-year-old veteran of the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) portrayed by Ed Sahlstrom will appear June 6-7. Sahlstrom will relate experiences of the CCC as it restored the Marquis de Morès’ Chateau from 1939 to 1941. Visitors can also visit a temporary CCC exhibit at the Interpretive Center.

The French aristocrat and cattle baron the Marquis de Morès will appear at the Chateau the weekend of June 13-14. Portrayed by Lance Rustand, the Marquis will share his dreams of a beef empire in the frontier Medora of the 1880s.

Madame de Morès (Medora) will appear at the Chateau June 20-21. Portrayed by Karen Nelson, this program will center on Madame de Morès’ return to Medora in 1903. Madame will share a retrospective of her time in western Dakota Territory during the summers of 1883-1886, as well as her life following her return to France.

A.T. Packard, the editor of the Bad Lands Cow Boy, will appear the weekend of June 27-28. Portrayed by Donald Ehli, Packard will discuss his life as the editor of the newspaper from 1884-86. On select weekends this summer, Ehli will also portray Felix Gollnick, a German immigrant who lived in the area while the Marquis built his empire.
 
Chateau de Morès is a state historic site managed by the State Historical Society of North Dakota. The Chateau de Morès site and Interpretive Center near Medora is open daily, 8:45 a.m.-noon and 1 p.m.-5:30 p.m. MT. Closed noon-1 p.m. for cleaning. For more information, contact Ed Sahlstrom at 701.623.4355. Find out about additional upcoming educational programs sponsored by the State Historical Society of North Dakota at history.nd.gov/events or call 701.328.2666.

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CONTACT
Ed Sahlstrom, 701.623.4355  

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