McIntosh County Heritage Center

Located on the eastern edge of Ashley, North Dakota (Close to Highway 11)

There is no admission fee, however your free-will offering will be greatly appreciated. Everyone is Welcome to tour our Heritage Center.

Heritage Center Phone:
(701) 288-3605

   An organization known as the McIntosh County Historical Society was formed on November 29, 1967 and incorporated under the laws of North Dakota on December 5, 1967. If was a humble beginning and attempts to spark the needed interest and broad membership were not instantly successful.
   In the summer of 1977, McIntosh County received a $143,000 grant for the construction of the county Heritage Center building. The Facility contains influences of German-Russian design and was completed in 1978. All of the exterior stone was obtained from rural McIntosh County.
   The land on which the building is located was donated for the purpose of the Heritage Center by the heirs of John Henry and Nina Farley Wishek, McIntosh County and Ashley pioneers.
   The Heritage Center's legal title is vested in the County of McIntosh. Management and development have been entrusted by the McIntosh County Commission to the McIntosh County Historical Society. Those who serve as officers and directors do so purely out of an interest in history and are dedicating both their time and energy to this cause.
   The primary objective for the Heritage Center is to provide a permanent place to house and display memorabilia that will help preserve the rich history of our county and its people so that present and future generations can be more informed about their ancestors' way of life.
   The McIntosh County Historical Society directors are pleased that so many visitors have toured our Heritage Center and chosen to support us with financial contributions and other assistance.
    Additional buildings located on the site include an early rural Lutheran Church, a sod house, and outdoor baking oven, a band stand, a small vintage Ashley business building, a charming one-room school house and a machinery storage building. The church is a gift to the Heritage Center by Lenhard Henke. Organized as Zion II, it was also commonly known as the Biederstedt Church.
   The school house, donated by the Wishek City Park Board and moved to the Heritage Center grounds, was previously located in Wishek, North Dakota.

A RICH HERITAGE
   George W. Lilly, Charles C. Morell and Charles V. Bayse were named to the first county commission on September 25, 1884 by the Honorable Gilbert A. Pierce, then Governor of the Territory of Dakota. It is interesting to note that none of the original commissioners bore names that indicated they were German descent. In time, this changed as settlers made their home in the area, and today, German names are more prevalent in McIntosh County than in any other county in North Dakota.
   In 1884, a site for the town of Hoskins was established on the south shore of Lake Hoskins. This new settlement became the town of Ashley in 1888 when its buildings were moved to the present site. In 1984, McIntosh County observed its Centennial.
   The communities of Lehr and Wishek were formed in 1898; Venturia followed in 1901, and Zeeland and Danzig were established in 1902 and 1908, respectively. Memorabilia from these neighboring communities is proudly displayed as it is received at the McIntosh County Heritage Center.
   This facility is being operated as a non-profit, educational public service institution. The continued expansion of the McIntosh County Heritage Center is dependent upon the good will of the community.
   A museum or heritage center is never complete. There is always an urgent need for continued assistance toward steady development.