Bonanzaville, USA

Bonanzaville is a museum complex in West Fargo that recreates early settlement structures and preserves various aspects of life in the northern region. The grounds display original and reconstructed buildings with collections of horse-drawn vehicles, medical equipment, firefighting gear, and historical communication systems.

The site was founded in 1971 to preserve buildings and items from around 1900, including the first house of Fargo. This collection documents how early settlement and daily life looked in the northern region.

The place reflects the values and everyday items that mattered to early settlers in the region. Visitors can see how people arranged their homes, worked, and cared for their health back then.

Access is via Interstate 94 at Exit 343, and the grounds are open from May through September. Visitors should wear comfortable shoes since the property is large and walking between buildings is required.

A working telephone communication system connects different buildings across the property, demonstrating how long-distance communication functioned in earlier times. This active exhibit offers a rare glimpse into technology otherwise found only in textbooks.