Historic Preservation

Historic preservation aims to protect a place’s heritage by preserving and conserving elements of its historic and cultural landscape. Preservation of a community’s historic buildings, objects, sites, or other elements of historical and/or cultural significance can provide a way for individuals to celebrate or recognize a community’s past while striving to define it for the future.

In the spring of 2019, the City of Bismarck formed the Historic Preservation Commission, becoming North Dakota’s eighth Certified Local Government, with a goal to preserve its historic resources and promote historic preservation events, best practices, and resources. A Historic Preservation Commission may be the first source of information for historic preservation inquiries for questions about current laws, practices, and standards. Additional responsibilities of the Historic Preservation Commission include maintaining and enforcing Bismarck’s preservation ordinance; advising on matters related to nominations to the National Register of Historic Places; promoting and educating about the City’s history, heritage, historic properties, and past citizens; and adhering to all Certified Local Government requirements.Phone showing Historic District Walking Tour

There are currently three historic districts in Bismarck and several individually listed properties in the National Register of Historic Places. Projects of the Historic Preservation Commission include the Timeline of Bismarck History, walking and driving tour maps of the Cathedral Area Historic District and the Downtown Historic District, and streetlight banners in the Highland Acres Historic District. The Historic Preservation Commission is currently working on Bismarck’s first Historic Preservation Plan, streetlight banners in the Cathedral Area Historic District and the Downtown Historic District, and a walking and driving tour map of the Highland Acres Historic District.

Historical Walking Tours

A series of walking tours through historic neighborhoods are being released. Use the links from your phone to guide your own tour or visit the Planning Division offices for a brochure version of the tour.

National Register of Historic Places Properties

This map shows all properties within one of the Bismarck's three historic districts or individually-listed on the National Register of Historic Places. documentation is available by clicking on the property in the map.


Timeline of Bismarck History

Timeline of Bismarck History - Online Timeline Screenshot Opens in new window

The Timeline is a product of a two-year effort of a subcommittee formed by the Bismarck Historic Preservation Committee. The eras, themes, people and events identified within the timeline establish a Bismarck-specific historic context which informs future preservation-related efforts. Suggested additions to this online timeline are welcome and we encourage you to add to our town's ever-growing body of history.

Agenda Items

Please submit all requests for items to be considered by the Historic Preservation Commission by email to Lauren Oster or by phone at 701-355-1846.

Section 106 Review Participation

The Bismarck Historic Preservation Commission participates in Section 106 reviews as a consulting party on behalf of the City of Bismarck. The following document provides general information about the Section 106 Review process and submittal procedures for consulting parties.