May 25, 2020
 

History Alive Programs Planned at Chateau de Morès State Historic Site

MEDORA, N.D. – Chateau de Morès State Historic Site will again present its perennially popular History Alive programs this summer. The free History Alive programs explore the lives and times of decades gone by, combining theater arts with history. The 30-minute monologues by historical impersonators 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 at 10:30 a.m., 1:30 p.m., and 3:30 p.m., and Sundays at 1:30 p.m. and 3:30 p.m. All times listed are in Mountain time. 

A.T. Packard, the editor of the "Bad Lands Cow Boy," will appear the weekend of June 5-6. Portrayed by Donald Ehli, Packard will discuss his life as the editor of the newspaper from 1884-1886. On select weekends this summer, Ehli will also portray Felix Gollnick, a German immigrant who lived in the area at the same time as the Marquis de Morès, the French aristocrat and cattle baron who founded Medora.

On the weekend of June 12-13, the Marquis himself will appear at the Chateau. Portrayed by Lance Rustand, the Marquis will share his dreams of building a beef empire in the frontier town of 1880s Medora.
 
Madame de Morès (Medora) will appear at the Chateau June 19-20. Portrayed by Karen Nelson, Madame will share a retrospective of her time in western Dakota Territory during the summers of 1883-1886, as well as discuss her life following her return to France. 

A 98-year-old veteran of the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) portrayed by Ed Sahlstrom will appear June 26-27. Sahlstrom will relate the experiences of the CCC as it restored the Marquis' Chateau from 1939 to 1941. Visitors can also view a temporary CCC exhibit at the Interpretive Center.

The 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 are open daily, 8:30 a.m.-5:30 p.m. MT, from May 31 through Labor Day. For more information, contact Ed Sahlstrom at 701.623.4355. Find additional upcoming educational programs sponsored by the State Historical Society at history.nd.gov/events.

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CONTACT
Ed Sahlstrom, 701.623.4355  

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