Hoeven signs bill for Heritage Center project

BISMARCK — Surrounded by a beaming crowd of supporters and Historical Society staff, Gov. John Hoeven signed the bill Wednesday to officially authorize spending $51.7 million for a 97,000 square-foot expansion of the state Heritage Center.

The project was first envisioned in 2001, during the 20-year anniversary celebration of the existing Heritage Center.

Sen. Tracy Potter, D-Bismarck, remarking on the Legislature’s decision to appropriate more money than Hoeven had sought, told the governor, “We see you, we raise you, and now we’re going to raise this building.”

The expansion, which will extend the facility east toward State Street on the Capitol grounds, should be started a year from now. Its distinctive feature will be a large glass atrium.

The State Historical Society and its foundation must have raised $6 million in cash by next May and must raise $12 million total for the project to match legislators’ $39.7 million appropriation of state general funds. The foundation has raised $2.5 million already.

The bill is House Bill 1481.

Just as plans for the expansion went on for several years before the money was authorized, speakers at Wednesday’s even spoke of the even longer process of getting the 1981 Heritage Center built. The original building is 141,000 square feet and has run out of space to display its growing collection.

Sen. Ralph Kilzer, R-Bismarck, told how, shortly after he moved to Bismarck in 1971, he attended a Rotary meeting at which Gov. William Guy spoke of the need to build a state Heritage Center. It was finally authorized by the 1977 Legislature.

All six of North Dakota’s governors since 1961 support the expansion and gathered at the 2001 anniversary celebration for a group photo that’s being used in promotional materials. They are Guy, Art Link, Allen Olson, George Sinner, Ed Schafer and Hoeven. All are still living.

Cole works for Forum

Communications Co., which

owns The Jamestown Sun

Tags: nd news, heritage center, news, hoeven