Dakota Memories Heritage Tour
Establishing and reinforcing cultural heritage to preserve the
past for the future.German-Russian Country: Prairie Legacy
Positive economic and social impacts in German-Russian
Country.
Initial collaboration began with the State Historical Society of
North Dakota, North Dakota Department of Tourism, NDSU Extension
Service, Center for Heritage Renewal, NDSU Libraries Germans from
Russia Heritage Collection and United States Department of
Agriculture Rural Development. It has expanded to local residents
and groups in the tri-county area.
What is the Tri-County Tourism Alliance?
2
Our MissionTo preserve and promote the Germans from Russia
heritage and culture, and to enhance tourism in Emmons, Logan and
McIntosh Counties.
Our VisionTo be the German-Russian tourism destination in North
Dakota.
Mission & Vision
3
Raymond A. Rosenfeld, Eastern Michigan University, Cultural and
Heritage Tourism is a tool of economic development that achieves
economic growth through attracting visitors from outside a host
community, who are motivated wholly or in part by interest in the
historical, artistic, scientific or lifestyle/heritage offerings of
a community, region, group or institution (Silberberg 1995)1. Such
travel is focused upon experiencing cultural environments,
including landscapes, the visual and performing arts and special
lifestyles, values, traditions, and events.
What is cultural heritage tourism?1Silberberg, Ted. Cultural
Tourism and Business Opportunities for Museums and Heritage Sites.
Tourism Management 16: 5 (1995): 361-365.
4
Rosenfeld continues Tourism is widely recognized for its
tangible outcomes (job creation, tax revenues) as well as its less
tangible outcomes (quality of life). It may be built upon a wide
variety of attractions, including agritourism, arts tourism,
cultural and heritage tourism, destination tourism, fairs, events
and conferences, sports teams, recreation, and more.
(http://www.municipaltoolkit.org/UserFiles/Rosenfeld_EN.pdf)
Dr. Tom Isern, NDSU Distinguished Professor: A heritage traveler
comes in search of history and culture in the local landscape, and
is most happy to discover heritage manifest not only in the
obvious, promoted attractions, but also embedded in the culture of
the people. Real things, real places, real people.
Target Audience: Heritage Travelers
In the 18th century, Catherine the Great invited German farmers
to come to Russia & cultivate the land. First colonized was the
Volga region. In 1804, Germans colonized the southern Ukraine (the
Black Sea Germans). More emigrated from Wrttemberg and Prussia
around 1812 and became the Bessarabian Germans.In 1871 after
Russification efforts under Alexander III, many of the German
Russians decided to leave. The Tri-county area of North Dakota
consisting of Emmons, Logan and McIntosh became heavily populated
with Germans from Russia, and remains so today.Who are the Germans
from Russia?
Heavily settled by German-Russian immigrants in the late 1880s
& 1890s.Located in the Sauerkraut Triangle.German was often the
first language taught in German-Russian homes to children born
prior to the 1930s.Many cultures and traditions are still prominent
in these three counties (i.e. Sauerkraut Day, polka fests, weekly
German day at local restaurants, Hochzeit Schnapps at
weddings).
Emmons, Logan & McIntosh Counties
Emmons County69.2% of the population were of German
ancestry.
Logan County75.0% of the population were of German ancestry.
McIntosh County82.2% of the population were of German
ancestry.
Census Data (2000)
The Food
The Sites
12
The Landscape
13
The People
20102009 Dakota Memories Heritage Tour proved there is a niche
for heritage tourism in German-Russian Country.Initial meeting
regarding promotion of heritage tourism involved NDSU Extension,
Center for Heritage Renewal, Libraries Germans from Russia Heritage
Collection, North Dakota Department of Tourism and State Historical
Society meet to discuss potential of heritage tourism in Emmons,
Logan and McIntosh Counties.Held first meeting in tri-county area
to encourage greater participation.NDSU Extension Service provides
grant to NDSU Libraries GRHC for second heritage tour.2011Dr. Tom
Iserns heritage resource inventory project.Das Gute Essen Kochbuch
Project received grant from SHSND.Second Dakota Memories Heritage
Tour is a success.2012May 18-20 19th Annual Conference of
Preservation ND A celebration of North Dakota heritage in the heart
of German-Russian Culture Wishek Civic Center and Tri-County area.
Impacts
15
2012 (continued)Designed Logo and Established Brand Name Prairie
Legacy: German-Russian Country 2013Ewiger Saatz was
debuted2014501c3 status was received (began process in 2012)EIN
#Bylaws$750 filling feeArticles of Incorporation filed with
Secretary of StateESP Distinguished Team AwardNDSU Extension
Program of Excellence AwardTestified at SHSND Foundation
MeetingsSpecial thanks to Senators Robert Erbele and Tim
MathernWelk SiteParty on the PrairieVolunteer Hours 2015Welk Site
became property of the State Historical Society of North
DakotaWomen Behind the Plow Exhibit
Impacts
16
Current ProjectsWelk FarmsteadWishek Civic CenterZeeland City
HallZeeland ArchAshley Jewish CemeteryLogan County Historical
MuseumBraddock Letter Press MuseumHazelton Historical Society
MuseumGerman-Russian Exhibit at Governors Gallery at North Dakota
Heritage CenterAlliance Ambassador ProgramStronger Economies
Together (SET)
Community EventsPresence at community events (i.e. Sauerkraut
Day, Oktoberfest, 125th celebrations.)St. Andrews Summer Service
& Trail Ride3rd Annual Oktoberfest in Napoleon (fundraiser for
local organizations)90th Sauerkraut DayAshley OktoberfestParty on
the Prairie
Strategic PlanExtension staff lead annual strategic planning
session
Website: germanrussiancountry.org
Creating content for German-Russian Country!Social Media:
Facebook, Flickr, Twitter, Pinterest, Blog
Creating content for German-Russian Country!TripAdvisor.com
& Google Earth
Blog
Engagement
Data collected German-Russian Public Events German-Russian
Material Culture German-Russian Folkways & ProductsPeople &
OrganizationsHeritage Resource Inventories
In the media
Food Directory
Ewiger Saatz (Everlasting Yeast)
Women Behind the Plow Exhibit
Contact InformationCarmen Rath-WaldExtension Agent, Logan
CountyPresident, Tri-County Tourism
[email protected] StuckleExtension Agent,
Emmons & Kidder CountiesSecretary, Tri-County Tourism
[email protected] BalcomHistorian, Tri-County
Tourism [email protected]
