September 16, 2022
 

Kittson Cabin Reconstruction Work to Begin at Walhalla State Historic Site

WALHALLA, N.D. – The State Historical Society of North Dakota announces reconstruction work is scheduled to begin this month on the Kittson cabin at Walhalla State Historic Site. The cabin will be disassembled this fall following best historic preservation practices, with careful removing, numbering, and storage of every log. Some logs will be salvaged, while others will need to be replaced in-kind. In spring 2023, the reassembly of the cabin will begin, with completion scheduled for June of that year.

The Kittson cabin, dating to 1852, is one of the oldest surviving buildings in North Dakota. It is a rare existing example of Métis Red River Frame construction, a style in which the horizontal logs forming the walls slot into upright corner posts.

"We are pleased that this vital link to North Dakota history is being preserved for future generations," said Site Supervisor Jeff Blanchard. "Careful conservation will ensure that this example of a rare construction style will endure for many years to come."

The cabin was originally built by fur trader Norman Kittson as a warehouse to supply the ox carts traveling to St. Paul and likely Winnipeg. The cabin stood in what was then the predominantly Métis community of St. Joseph, now downtown Walhalla. By 1899, the cabin was being used as a stable for the Bellevue Hotel. In 1904, the Pembina County Old Settlers' Association disassembled it and moved the cabin to its current location in Walhalla. Additional improvements to the Walhalla State Historic Site are in the planning phase.

For more information, contact Jeff Blanchard at 701.825.6840. Walhalla State Historic Site is managed by the State Historical Society. The site is located two blocks southwest of the intersection of ND Highway 32 and County 55 in Walhalla. 

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CONTACT
Jeff Blanchard, 701.825.6840

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