News and Events
Students with cell phones help launch New Passport and History on Call
Posted 12/14/09 (Mon)
A new edition of the award-winning Passport to North Dakota History, a traveler’s guide to North Dakota historic sites, has been republished for another North Dakota tourist season with a $25,000 donation from Tesoro.
Complementing the Passport this year is the new State Historical Society of North Dakota’s History on Call program, which offers sound bites to travelers about the historic sites included in the Passport. The statewide History on call number – (701) 557-9190 – can be accessed by cell or regular telephone. A partnership with the USDA US Forest Service has provided a $15,000 donation for the program.
The new Passport and History on Call were introduced at the North Dakota Heritage Center today before a group of people that included eighth grade North Dakota Studies students from Shiloh Christian School of Bismarck and members of the Roughrider Family Campers and RVers Club, who used the Passport during camping trips during the summer of 2008.
“The historic attractions available in North Dakota tell the unique stories that showcase our many legends. The Passport to History and History on Call tools will help visitors find and enjoy these 69-plus sites across the state,” said North Dakota Tourism Director Sara Otte Coleman at today’s ceremony.
The new edition of the Passport features thumbnail sketches and photos of more than 60 historic sites, state parks, scenic byways and wildlife refuges. It also lists state campgrounds and scenic byways.
By the end of May, more than 90 Tesoro retail stations in North Dakota and the region will begin to distribute the Passports, and they will also be available at state and national historic sites, Dakota Prairie Grasslands offices, North Dakota parks and recreation areas, a number of grocery stores, and at the North Dakota Heritage Center Museum Store.
“We are part of North Dakota. Our operations are here, our employees are here, and what we can do to support the area is a win-win for everyone,” said Leif Peterson, human resources manager at the Tesoro Refinery in Mandan.
“The Passport to North Dakota History is a great opportunity to partner with the State, Forest Service, and the State Historical Society of North Dakota,” said Tesoro’s Mandan Refinery Manager John Berger. “We encourage folks to use it to explore and celebrate the tradition and history of North Dakota.”
Tesoro, headquartered in San Antonio, Texas, supported the project by working side-by-side with project partners to design, plan and promote the joint venture throughout North Dakota.
“We are very proud to have partnered with the State Historical Society of North Dakota Foundation on the development of first The Passport to North Dakota History and now to expand it with History on Call,” said Dave Pieper, USDA US Forest Service, and Dakota Prairie Grasslands Supervisor.
According to Tom Turck, Dakota Prairie Grasslands Archaeologist, for the USDA US Forest Service, the 2008 Passport to North Dakota History won the USDA US Forest Service regional and national Windows on the Past Award for Excellence.
More than a dozen partners are participating in the production and distribution of the Passports and promoting History on Call. Dave Blair at Kadrmas, Lee and Jackson coordinated the book’s design and it was printed by Image Printing of Bismarck. Other promotion and distribution partners are North Dakota Tourism, the Bismarck-Mandan Convention and Visitors Bureau, North Dakota Parks and Recreation Department and the North Dakota Geological Survey, Cass-Clay Creamery and regional grocery stores -- Dan’s Supermarkets of Bismarck, Mandan and Dickinson, Leevers Foods of Devils Lake and regional stores, Hornbacher’s Foods in Fargo-Moorhead, Miracle Marts in Minot, Economart in Williston and the North Dakota Grocers Association.
In addition to being available at Tesoro stations and sites across the state, the Passport is available to download and print.