Merrill Piepkorn
Meet our narrator Merrill Piepkorn
A North Dakota native and voice of Prairie Public Radio
The Mighty Missouri River has been key to commerce, recreation and nature for the Capital City. The river isn’t always a blessing to its residents, especially in the spring season, dealing the communities of Bismarck and Mandan with severe flooding in the 50’s and in 2011.
Merrill Piepkorn narrates Bismarck’s navigation of the Missouri River.
Elizabeth McClelland was a transformational figure in the history of Bismarck; she helped build both landmarks and community. It is her reputation as an adult entertainer that draws the most attention. known as “Little Casino” for the deuce of spades that was quite literally her calling card.
Despite the fame “Little Casino” contributed greatly to our epic towns history.
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Listen to Merrill Piepkorn describe the History of Bismarck
History 101 Bismarck ND
Bismarck, North Dakota founded in 1872
Bismarck was originally named Edwinton after Edwin L Johnson.
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North Dakota’s current capitol building wasn’t always an eighteen floor, twenty-one story art-deco high rise!
Merrill Piepkorn narrates “Skyscraper on the Prairie”
“The Prairie Palace” was completed in nineteen thirty-four and was built to replace the state’s former capitol building, which burned down.
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Otto von Bismarck
Many historians praise him as a visionary who was instrumental in uniting Germany. Once that had been accomplished, he kept the peace in Europe. Bismarck’s popular image was as “gruff” and “militaristic”, while in reality “Bismarck’s tool was aggressive, ruthless diplomacy.”
The Smith & Curran, the original ND cocktail. Alternatively, the drink can be served in layers, without stirring and shaking. It is believed that the drink was invented by Gebert “Shorty” Doebber in 1952, who named it after the two oilmen who were regular patrons at his North Dakota bar.
An audio history of Bismarck’s very own of The Smith & Curran
