Like many counties across the Upper Midwest, Cavalier County is rich in history that spans more than a century. From the early days of settlers to the boom brought by the railroad, the stories are countless and the Cavalier County Museum serves to ensure they live on for generations to come. Featuring artifacts from bygone eras, the museum complex includes seven buildings that transport you back in time.

The cornerstone of the Cavalier County Museum at Dresden is the Holy Trinity Church, which was built in 1936 out of fieldstone collected by the local parishioners to replace two wooden structures that had previously been lost to fire. The stone structure has certainly stood the test of time, surviving decades of the unpredictable North Dakota weather. It served as a Catholic Parish until 1969, when it was designated as a museum for the Cavalier County Historical Society. It now houses artifacts from the surrounding area and even fossils from the Pembina Gorge!

Main Street in the DeVold Building is an extraordinary replica of an old settlers town, complete with Langdon’s first jail, a blacksmith shop, and doctor and dentist office, amongst other things. You can practically hear the clink of steel echoing through the building, horseshoes being forged by the smithy.

The most recent addition to the museum complex is the Hahn home, which was built in 1920 by the Hahn family, pioneers of Dresden during the early years. Imagine the stories these walls could tell! Since 2008, the Hahn Home has been opened to the public and truly gives visitors a glimpse into life on the prairie.

Other treasured items at the Cavalier County Museum include a log cabin, the Dyer School, a one-room country school, caboose, and antique machinery as well as other modes of early transportation. A cook car, used for preparing meals for threshing crews, is also on display and features a license plate signed by President Herbert Hoover.

The Cavalier County Historical Society keeps history alive with social events and a continual curation of new artifacts and treasured items, ensuring generations to come can explore their heritage here at the museum.