Dickinson offers several distinct themes to consider when planning your trip: regional history, Ukrainian culture, dinosaurs and outdoor activities. At museums and cultural institutions, you’ll find exhibits, historic and reconstructed buildings, and a research library. Outdoors, a loop trail at Patterson Lake and a golf course with views of the lake cater to different recreational interests. This gives you the flexibility to decide which theme you’d like to focus on.
History, Buildings and Regional Culture
The Joachim Regional Museum explores the history of Dickinson and southwestern North Dakota. Art and history exhibits add to this view of the city and region. Prairie Outpost Park offers a different focus: its 12 acres include five historic buildings and six reconstructed buildings. The distinction is specific—the park includes both historic structures and buildings that have been reconstructed.
The Pioneer Machinery Hall offers another perspective, with its collection of agricultural equipment. Together, these attractions provide different ways to explore history: exhibits at the museum, buildings in the park, and agricultural technology at the Machinery Hall. When choosing cultural attractions, you can consider not only the location but also the type of exhibit or historical subject.
Dinosaurs and Fossil Preparation
The Badlands Dinosaur Museum displays eleven life-size dinosaur skeletons indoors and two outdoors. The museum also has a publicly accessible fossil preparation laboratory and a research and fieldwork program. Alongside the completed skeletons, its focus therefore includes fossil preparation and research. The number and locations of the skeletons, as well as the laboratory, offer specific points to consider if dinosaurs and working with fossils are of particular interest to you.
Ukrainian Culture and a Culinary Note
The Ukrainian Cultural Institute features exhibits on folk art and religious imagery and houses a research library. Exhibited objects and images include handmade pysanky Easter eggs, embroidered cloths, and historic paintings of early settlers. These represent different forms of expression: handmade objects, textiles, and paintings. The library complements the exhibits with a research focus.
Varenyky or pyrohy, also called “Cheese Buttons,” are available for purchase at the Ukrainian Cultural Institute. Check current availability in advance if you’d like to include this offering in your plans.
Loop Trail or Golf Course?
The Crooked Crane Trail at Patterson Lake is a 1.8-mile loop trail with two loops. The concrete path is 10 feet wide and includes exercise and play facilities for all ages. The trail’s layout, width and facilities describe it more precisely than simply noting its location by the lake.
The Heart River Golf Course in Dickinson is an 18-hole, par-72 course. It is situated along the scenic Heart River and offers numerous panoramic views of Patterson Lake. The trail and golf course therefore differ significantly in the activities they offer: the Crooked Crane Trail is defined by its loop, its sections and its facilities, while the golf course is characterized by its number of holes, par and riverside location with views of the lake.
You can weigh these themes separately when planning your trip and accommodations. Museums and cultural institutions offer different historical and artistic subjects, while the trail and golf course appeal to different outdoor interests. First decide which part of Dickinson matters most to your trip, then look for a hotel in Dickinson that suits your plans.
For an overview of the wider area: Stark County.
