Alexander offers several points of interest for a visit: the museum on the Lewis and Clark Trail, the annual Old Settlers’ Day celebration, historic local sites and nearby Sather Dam. Cultural history, a recurring festival and the fish populations at the dam appeal to different interests and offer specific ideas for planning your trip.
The Lewis and Clark Trail Museum
The Lewis and Clark Trail Museum is located on the Lewis and Clark Trail in Alexander. It opened in 1969. Its collections are housed in an original three-story schoolhouse built in 1914; the museum also displays family heirlooms belonging to settlers. The collection thus brings together historic everyday objects and a building with a history of its own.
The grounds also include a sheep herder’s wagon. Several petrified tree stumps are displayed on the lawn in front of the museum grounds. Admission to the museum is free. Check current visiting hours before your visit so you can plan the stop to fit your day.
James Gang Java, a coffee and gift shop, is also located on the museum grounds in the Charbonneau School building. The address is 102 Indiana Ave E in Alexander, North Dakota. If you would like to include the shop in your plans, check its current opening hours in advance.
Old Settlers’ Day: Tradition and Program
Old Settlers’ Day is still celebrated annually in Alexander; the tradition began as Lem Burns Day. The festival lasts three days and takes place over Labor Day weekend. Events include a bonfire, a parade, dances, school sports, activities for children, bingo and horseshoe pitching. Individual activities may vary from year to year.
Food is also part of the festival: barbecue beef on a bun and baked beans are served. The combination of a parade, dances, sports, games and shared meals makes Old Settlers’ Day a clearly defined event in the annual calendar. If you plan to travel for a particular event, check the dates and that year’s program in advance.
Historic Local Sites and Landscape
Historically, Alexander was situated among several buttes: Bell’s Butte to the south, Foreman’s Butte to the west, Barrager Butte to the northwest and Tub Butte to the east. Big Hill, also called Firecracker Hill, was also located to the west. These different directional references give a picture of the town’s historic location.
The Bird Head Cattle Company’s line camp is part of the area’s early history. Before the county was organized, the company established the camp near Alexander’s early settlement site. It was located by a large spring at the headwaters of Lonesome Creek, near the Ragged Buttes. These local references date back to a time when the county had not yet been organized.
A Different Focus at Sather Dam
Nearby Sather Dam adds a connection to fish populations to the cultural points of interest. It has good populations of bluegill and largemouth bass; crappies are also found there. For travelers interested in bodies of water and the fish species found there, this offers another point to consider when choosing what to focus on.
The two cultural highlights call for different timing: Old Settlers’ Day takes place over Labor Day weekend, while you should plan your museum visit around the hours you have checked in advance.
Discover more destinations: Watford City.
For the broader travel overview: McKenzie County.
