Grafton State School

Grafton State School is a historic district in Grafton, North Dakota, made up of several brick buildings arranged across a large property. The structures were designed in the Prairie School style and feature a network of underground passages that once connected them.

The facility opened in 1901 as North Dakota's main institution for residential care and education. Over its lifetime, it went through major changes in how it operated and what services it provided to residents.

The names and purposes of the buildings here changed along with how society viewed care and education. Walking through the grounds, you notice how the layout was designed to keep residents engaged in daily routines and work.

You can walk around the grounds and look at the preserved buildings from the outside. Before you visit, it helps to learn about the property online, since not all buildings are open to the public.

The underground tunnel network was built to solve a practical problem in North Dakota's harsh winters. Staff and residents could move between buildings without stepping outside into the cold.