The “Buffalo City” in eastern North Dakota welcomes visitors with an exciting combination of prairie town heritage and year-round outdoor recreation.
With buffalo museums, watersports, scenic walking trails and prairie town history, Jamestown presents an interesting mix of attractions. Jamestown is in eastern North Dakota, at the meeting point of the James River and Pipestem Creek. These two waterways cut through the heart of the city and offer unbounded recreational activities.
A good place to start your visit is at the Frontier Village. Explore history as you look through original buildings from North Dakota’s prairie towns. Visit Jamestown’s first railroad depot, watch Wild West gunfights or take a ride on a prairie wagon.
Learn about the history of the American buffalo and spot the rare albino bison at the National Buffalo Museum. Don’t miss the chance to take a photo with the 26-foot-tall (8-meter) buffalo monument, recently named Dakota Thunder.
Follow in the footsteps of Jamestown-born Louis L’Amour, a revered author of western novels. Take a self-guided tour of his former school, the Historic Franklin School. Visit the James River Library System, which stimulated L’Amour’s passion for literature.
Discover antiques and artifacts of Jamestown’s early-20th century settlers at the Stutsman County Memorial Museum. Alternatively, admire the work of local artists at The Arts Center.
Jamestown’s recreational activities range from fishing, swimming and golfing in summer to ice skating, sledding and cross-country skiing in winter. Find baseball fields, a children’s playground and picnic areas in McElroy Park or play a round of disc golf at Klaus Park. Walk or rent a bike and explore over 35 miles (56 kilometers) of scenic hikes, nature walks and mountain bike trails. Camp, fish and swim at Jamestown Reservoir and Pipestem Dam and Lake.
Reach Jamestown by taking intercity buses from major U.S. cities. Public transportation is limited in the city. Getting around is easiest via car. You’ll find plenty of free parking on the city’s streets. You can also visit attractions located in the picturesque surrounding countryside. Spot migratory birds amid the prairie grasslands and lakes of Arrowwood National Wildlife Refuge.
