The Grafton State School Historic District is part of the campus of the former Grafton State School, North Dakota’s institution for the care of people with intellectual and developmental disabilities. Originally known as the School for the Feebleminded, it opened its doors in 1904 and provided a broad range of special education, medical, rehabilitation, social, psychological, and evaluation services in addition to residential care.

The Grafton State School also has a notable past involving North Dakota’s embrace of eugenics, the pursuit of producing genetic traits considered desirable. Between the years of 1910 and 1962, over 1,000 cases of sterilization were documented in North Dakota, with over half of them performed in Grafton, an unfortunate reality of the history of the school.

Today, the facility is known as the Life Skills and Transition Center (LSTC). It continues to focus on people who have intellectual and developmental disabilities, many of whom also have mental health challenges. The LSTC serves as a crisis and stabilization center, as well as a safety net for people whose needs exceed community resources. The agency provides services to people in various communities across the state of North Dakota, including on the campus.

Because of its historical nature, the Grafton State School was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1996. It consists of several structures and a unique tunnel system, all of which contribute to the historical status of the facility. The original main building emerged like a twin-towered fortress over the campus, showcasing a menagerie of architectural styles including Classic Revival, Beaux Arts, Prairie School, and Art Deco. To this day, the Life Skills and Transition Center remains an integral part of the effort of the State of North Dakota to support its intellectually and developmentally disabled citizens.