A great deal of research has been compiled about the North Dakota men who made the lands their own through hard work and diligence, but very little was known about the independent women who homesteaded across the state and lived as neighbors alongside them.

Starting in the 1870s, thousands of single, divorced, and widowed women in North Dakota took advantage of the government’s offer of “free land” and filed claims in their own names. These remarkable women of every ethnicity and background, some barely past their teens and some already in their 60s made their homes, worked the land, and raised families in an era and area that was not only difficult but dangerous.

To acknowledge these women and their accomplishments, The Sibyl Center in Stanley will have on display for a limited time “Land in Her Own Name,” a traveling exhibit from the State Historical Society of North Dakota. This exhibit presents the findings of H. Elaine Lindgren, a retired North Dakota State University sociology professor and author of “Land in Her Own Name,” who researched the fascinating history of women homesteaders in North Dakota.

The exhibit includes ornate handwritten letters and diaries and many photographs and lively stories of the survivors, a strong picture emerges of the women whose names we remember with the land.

The display is open for viewing 1 hour prior, during and 2 hours following upcoming performances and concerts. Go to www.sibylcenter.org for a schedule of events.

The Sibyl Center is located at 301 1st Street SW in Stanley.