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BISMARCK - The North Dakota Heritage Center & State Museum in Bismarck has received a GEMmy Award from the Midwest Travel Journalists Association, recognizing it as one of the region’s most exceptional travel experiences. GEMmy awards recognize outstanding attractions, sites, events, accommodations, restaurants, drives, walks and excursions.
Through the awards, Midwest Travel Journalists Association members highlight exceptional gems worth visiting.
Only 100 GEMmy Awards have been presented since the award's inception in 1992.
State Historical Society Director Bill Peterson said the team welcomes more than 200,000 visitors per year and encourages them to visit other "gems" around the state. In June 2024, the Bismarck-Mandan Convention & Visitors Bureau hosted the Midwest Travel Journalists Association spring conference. More than 30 association members spent nearly a week exploring the community.
"They left with more than just an appreciation for what we have here," Sheri Grossman, CEO of the Bismarck-Mandan Convention & Visitors Bureau, said. "They were genuinely surprised and impressed by what they found. People may not expect a museum of this caliber in North Dakota, and they certainly may not expect the combination of world-class exhibits, incredible stories, beautiful grounds and free admission. But that is exactly what visitors find when they come here."
Randy Mink of Bolingbrook, Illinois, a nomination supporter, said the museum was the highlight of his visit to Bismarck -- so much so that he returned for a second visit.
The North Dakota Heritage Center & State Museum, located at 612 E. Boulevard Ave. in Bismarck, is open Monday-Friday, 8 a.m.-5 p.m., and Saturday-Sunday, 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Admission is free.