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Minard Hall

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Present day photo of Minard. [4]

Originally named Science Hall, Minard was built in 1902. The building was built in three stages. The first stage housed the science departments such as biology, geology, horticulture, and mathematics. In 1918, A fourth floor was added and this was where the museum was supposed to be laid out. Finally, a third section of the building was built in 1929. This building was named in honor of Dean A. E. Minard, who spent 46 years at NDAC. However, the building collapsed in on itself in 2011. Construction and remodeling soon began and it was not completed until 2013. Currently, it houses four different colleges with 17 classrooms, computer labs, as well as the psychology lab in the basement devoted to research. There is also a

Minard Hall, 1908.

Minard Hall, 1908. [5]

coffee shop located in the connection between Minard and the Reineke Fine Arts Center. The 4th floor used to be where the dances were held in the 1920s. [1] [2]

Legend has it that a janitor went up to the fourth floor the morning after a dance and found two people murdered. The investigators concluded it was a double homicide. In the 1960s the 4th floor was changed to a zoology lab, but there still were some reports saying that students feel a “presence” up there. [3]

  1. Bedsaul, Jason. “NDSU Archives Main Page: Timeline.” Accessed October 15, 2016. https://library.ndsu.edu/ndsuarchives/
  2. North Dakota State University. “Minard Hall.” Accessed October 15, 2016. https://www.ndsu.edu/alphaindex/buildings/Building::381
  3. The Shadowland. “Haunted Places in North Dakota.” Accessed October 15, 2016. http://www.theshadowlands.net/places/northdakota.htm
  4. Photo by Courtney Johnson
  5. Photo by NDSU Archives, https://flic.kr/p/8gkLhy
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The Fargo History Project

The Fargo History Project began in Fall 2012 as part of a Digital History course at North Dakota State University. What started as a class effort to explore Fargo’s early history through archival research has grown into an ongoing, collaborative public history initiative. Students continue to work in libraries, archives, and the community to uncover and interpret the city’s past, contributing research that expands the project in new directions each year.

Over time, the project has moved beyond its original digital format to include a range of public-facing work. Students have produced original documentaries, conducted oral histories, and developed a Fargo history walking tour that invites people to experience the city’s past in place. These additions reflect a broader commitment to making history accessible, engaging, and relevant to public audiences.

Have a story, photograph, or piece of Fargo’s history to share? Send it to us or get in touch—we want to include your voice in the project.

Angela J. Smith is Professor of History and Director of the Public History Program at North Dakota State University. Her work focuses on public history, digital history, and twentieth-century U.S. history, with an emphasis on community-engaged research and making the past accessible to broader audiences.

Fargo History Resources

The Fargo History Project is a public history initiative produced by students at NDSU. ©North Dakota State University