Ludwig and Christina Welk Homestead, German-Russian immigrant farmhouse in Strasburg, North Dakota.
The Ludwig and Christina Welk Homestead is a farmhouse built from dried mud bricks, accompanied by a summer kitchen, blacksmith shop, granary, and barn from 1899. The site preserves the buildings and grounds where this immigrant family established their life on the North Dakota prairie.
Ludwig and Christina Welk established their homestead in 1893 after leaving Alsace-Lorraine and traveling through Odessa to settle in North Dakota. Their farm became part of the German-speaking communities that shaped the settlement patterns across the region.
The homestead reflects how German-Russian settlers maintained their building traditions while adapting to prairie conditions. The layout of the structures and materials show how this community shaped their daily life in their adopted land.
The homestead is best reached by car since public transportation is limited in this rural area. It is helpful to check opening hours in advance, as the site operates only during certain seasons.
Lawrence Welk, the son of Ludwig and Christina, was born on this homestead in 1903 and later became a celebrated television entertainer. His rise from farm life to stardom created an unexpected connection between this quiet property and American entertainment history.
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