Sen. Cramer & Museum Curator Wes Anderson

VALLEY CITY, N.D. (NewsDakota.com) – U.S. Senator Kevin Cramer (R-ND) commemorated Valley City’s contributions to defending democracy in his address at the grand opening of the new World War II Heritage Trail and exhibit at the Barnes County Museum on Thursday, July 9th. He applauded the community’s efforts to preserve its World War II legacy and encouraged others to uncover and celebrate the stories of their own hometown heroes.

The new additions come after a campaign by the Barnes County Historical Society to have Valley City named North Dakota’s World War II Heritage City—a campaign Cramer and the North Dakota delegation advocated for in a letter they sent to the National Park Service (NPS) in 2024. The NPS made the designation official in 2025, highlighting Valley City State Teachers College training naval officers through its V-12 program and Mercy Hospital School of Nursing’s efforts for teaching members of the United States Cadet Nurse Corps.

Valley City Mayor Mike Bishop said the designation makes Valley City the smallest community in the nation to receive the honor, recognizing the lasting impact its residents made on the World War II homefront and beyond, and serving as another reminder of North Dakota’s patriotism and quiet commitment to always answering the nation’s call when needed.

The Barnes County Museum unveiled the project after securing multiple grants to research, preserve, and share these stories. The new exhibit and self-guided heritage trail highlight local stories which helped shape history, including connections to the Manhattan Project, the Ghost Army, the “Farmerettes” who kept American agriculture running during the war, the Nuremberg Trials, Norway’s wartime resistance, and other contributions from residents.

“Steve King, Barnes County Historical Society president, emphasized the reality that Valley City didn’t do one thing extraordinary, but the collective of the entire communities efforts made the difference,”according to King and Sen. Cramer.

The project features interpretive panels located throughout Valley City, a Talking Trail, and an expanded museum exhibit offering visitors a deeper look at the region’s role in the war effort. The initiative was led by museum curator Wes Anderson and museum board member and graphic artist Sandy Hanson, whose years of research brought these stories to life. Museum board member Lewis Legge oversaw installation of the trail markers and interpretive signage.

Grand Opening of WWII Heritage City

WWII Display

WWII Display

Sen. Cramer & Wes Anderson

Museum patrons

Sen. Kevin Cramer (R-ND)

Valley City Mayor Mike Bishop

Steve King

Barnes County Historical Society president.

Sen. Cramer

Visits with patrons before the ceremony.