The Rosebud Railcar

2016 Out West, North Dakota, Road Trip

After a two night stay on the banks of Lake Ashtabula we headed out through the North Dakota countryside for some adventure. First stop the Rosebud Visitors Center in Valley City. What a find! Rosebud’s official name was the Northern Pacific Car 1997. It was outfitted in 1881 as the Superintendent’s car. After it’s retirement in 1931 it became a vacation home but with a profound sense of its history. When it was donated to the historical society it didn’t need restoration. A 1926 railroad map is still under the glass of the secretary’s desk!

The Superintendent’s car is not open to visitors but we could look through the windows at its gorgeous vintage interior. However outside they have a wonderful old caboose in which we could walk around and climb up to the seats up top. 


Next we headed west in search of the National Buffalo Museum. After a gps fueled wild goose chase through Jamestown, we found it. Not sure if it was worth the find for us. Certainly folks road weary from a slough eastbound along I-94 would we glad for a stop to pose in front of a massive concrete statue of an American Bison and eat ice cream purchased in an old general store nestled among other relocated historic buildings but somehow we got a strong vibe of tourist kitsch. We paused for a bit and did get ice cream but moved on headed south on US-281. We’re on our way to Aberdeen.


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