History book on N.D. starts with dinosaurs

A recent book detailing North Dakota’s history from dinosaurs to the 21st century has received national honors from the American Library Association. The book is a collaborative publication of the State Historical Society of North Dakota and the North Dakota Center for Distance Education.

“North Dakota History: Readings about the Northern Plains State”, has been named to the ALA’s Notable Documents List of the best government publications for 2008. It is one of only 13 state publications throughout the United States nationally recognized by the ALA.

“North Dakota History” is a collection of articles and images from more than a century of publications by the state’s history agency, the SHSND. It is intended for use as a North Dakota history textbook for high school students.

Printed in full color, the book includes more than 340 photographs, maps and other images to help bring the past into perspective. The 434-page, hard-bound textbook also includes many sidebar features, as well as hundreds of highlighted key terms that help make the reading more interesting and appealing.

The book is not meant to be a complete history of the state, but instead to pique interest in a variety of historical topics. Each article was chosen not only on the basis of quality research and historical interpretation, but also to cover a broad sampling of the history, prehistory and geography of North Dakota. 

The book’s editor is Kathy Davison, SHSND editor and chair of the book’s committee.

The center is a nonprofit distance education high school headquartered in Fargo that has provided educational opportunities for students worldwide for more than 70 years. This new book arose from 2007 legislation that required all North Dakota high schools to offer a course in North Dakota history. The center took on the project of producing a curriculum and its North Dakota Studies Coordinator Neil Howe approached the State Historical Society about the idea of a joint project.

North Dakota History costs $45, plus tax, and is available at the North Dakota Heritage Center Museum Store or by contacting museum stores Manager Rhonda Brown at 701-328-2822, email rhbrown@ nd.gov, or order online at www.nd.gov/ hist/MuseumStore. The book, and its teacher resource guide, is also available through the North Dakota Center for Distance Education at 701-231-6030 or by ordering online at www.NDstudies .org/order.

Tags: diversions, book, history, dinosaurs