Icelandic State Park
Pioneer Heritage Center
Now at the Pioneer Heritage Center—“Fashions of Yesterday” exhibit on display in the temporary exhibit area from February through April.
Icelandic State Park's Pioneer Heritage Center features permanent and temporary displays about the area's rich ethnic settlement. Hours are:
- Memorial Day weekend-Labor Day—Friday, Saturday & Sunday 9 a.m.-6 p.m.; Monday through Thursday 9 a.m.-8 p.m.
- May & September—Monday through Saturday 9 a.m.-6 p.m.; Sunday 1-5 p.m..
- Off-season (November through April)—Monday through Friday 9 a.m.-5 p.m.; Saturday closed; Sunday 1-5 p.m.
2009 Special Events
February 28: Ice Fishing Derby on Lake Renwick – sponsored by the Pembina County Area Sportsman’s Club.
May 25: Military Appreciation Day – Free admission, no daily vehicle fee on Memorial Day in honor of past and present service men and women.
June 6: National Trails Day – Guided hikes on a portion of the Bluebird Nesting Box Trail at 9:30 AM, through the Gunlogson Nature Preserve at 4 PM, and a night hike at dusk.
June 13: Saturday night at Akra Hall event with music and dinner.
July 17-19: Christmas in July – Decorate your campsite, it’s Christmas all over again!
Aug. 7-9: Kids’ Weekend – An entire weekend totally devoted to kids with games, entertainment, contests, and lots of excitement.
Sept. 13: Pioneer Machinery Show – Machinery parade, threshing, tractor pull, kids peddle pull, entertainment, displays, and breakfast. All located at the Pioneer Machinery Site. (Across the road from the park.)
Nov. 22: Christmas Open House/Visitor Appreciation Day – The Pioneer Heritage Center will be decorated with trees, lights and a variety of Christmas displays. This event is our annual Visitor Appreciation Day, vehicle entry fees are waived for this event.
Winter Activities - Cross country ski trails are groomed through the Nature Preserve and campgrounds, ice fishing on the lake, sledding hill near the boat ramp area.
Interpretive Activities
Weekend interpretive activities, including hikes, campfire programs and Dakota Explorers, are held every weekend during the summer. Information is posted on the campground bulletin boards.
June 5th-7th
Friday, June 5th
- Join us at the Amphitheater for Up North under the Lights. What makes the northern lights shine like they do? When is the best time to see them? How do the Native Americans interpret these night show wonders?
Saturday, June 6th (National Trails Day)
- Guided hikes all day on a portion on the Bluebird Nesting Box Trail at the Gunlogson Nature Preserve. Hikes start at the Pioneer Heritage Center.
- At night explore how your senses will heighten as your vision deteriorates. This night hike starts at the Ranger Station on the campground.
June 12th-14th Saturday Night at the Hall
Friday, June 12th
- Learn about The Little Wood Munchers, Beavers, at the Amphitheater. How do beavers reproduce, build, eat, sleep and watch out for predators in the great wild? Who is their biggest predator?
Saturday, June 13th
- Dakota Explorer program at the Picnic Shelter.
- Join us at Akra Hall on the Pioneer Heritage Grounds. This Saturday Night at the Hall there will be pitchfork fondue and live music with Dennis Clark and Chuck Suchy. Find out how community halls were the life of the prairie on a weekend night.
June 19th-21st (Big Animals in North Dakota)
Friday, June 19th
- Learn about the wonders of Whitetail Deer at the Amphitheater. How does a deer’s biology help the deer to survive in the wild?
Saturday, June 20th
- Dakota Explorers program at the Picnic Shelter
- What makes Elk majestic? How do we prevent diseases from affecting Elk in domestic and wild herds like those effecting cattle? Also, we will discuss the methods of hunting this magnificent animal on all sorts of terrain.
June 26th-27th (1862: A Summer of Chaos)
Friday, June 26th
- Join The Dakota Conflict (The Great Sioux Uprising of 1862) at the Amphitheather. While the Civil War was going on, the Sioux took over the state of Minnesota. The Sioux took measures into their own hands in the summer of 1862 after the Indian agents on their reservation did not hand out food rations. Find out how eggs were involved in the incident that started it all. Little Crow picks up the warpath in this night time thriller.
Saturday, June 27th (National Great American Backyard Campout Day)
- Dakota Explorers program at the Picnic Shelter
- Abraham Lincoln’s Decision: Learn how it felt to be in Lincoln’s shoes, what would you do? After the Dakota were rounded up after their uprising, how did they try the “Prisoners of War” or “criminals”. Find out at the Amphitheater.
July 3rd-5th (4TH OF JULY)
Friday, July 3rd
- What makes a firework? Learn how the Chinese used gunpowder for tools in their work and also to entertain people. Discover the firework industry and how new firework designs are improving their performance year in and year out at the Amphitheater.
Saturday, July 4th
- Dakota Explorers Program: Join us at the Picnic Shelter to make your own fireworks!!!
- Discover how the second war for independence started with a dispute between England and the new nation of America at the Amphitheater. Francis Scott Keyes was watching a battle of the War of 1812 and wrote down the words that eventually became the national anthem to our nation: The Star-Spangled Banner.
July 10th-12th A Weekend with the Birds
Friday, July 10th
- Who’s Hoo? Learn about owls and how they interact with their habitats, adapt to their surroundings, and what is being done to save certain species of owls at the Amphitheater.
Saturday, July 11th
- Dakota Explorers Program: Come and fly with the birds, and even make your own.
- Do you hear what I hear? Song birds, colors, where you find them, the sounds they make, and much more! Also, discover ways you can attract these wonderful creatures into your backyard, even in modern day suburbia, at the Amphitheater.
July 17th-19th Christmas in July
Friday, July 17th
- Join us at the Amphitheater to find out what makes Rudolf’s nose glow and other characteristics about Santa and his reindeer.
Saturday, July 18th
- Dakota Explorers Program at the Picnic Shelter. Learn how to make homemade bulbs and ornaments to hang on your tree!
- Christmas at War. Learn how troops in America history dealt with Christmas during war time. The interpreter will take a look at the different wars that America has been involved with and the ways troops celebrated the holidays overseas.
July 24th-26th
Friday, July 24th – Theme: Alfred Sully vs. the Sioux Indians
- Whitestone Hill - ND Military Campaigning Conducted by Alfred Sully. Find out the tactics that Sully used to surround the Sioux natives at Whitestone Hill near Kulm, ND. Relive the details of the battle and the aftermath of the battle to the U.S. army and the Sioux warriors at the Amphitheater.
Saturday, July 25th
- Dakota Explorers Program at the Picnic Shelter
- A whole village burned: The Battle of the Killdeer Mts. Alfred Sully battled the Sioux natives in the Killdeer Mountains in western North Dakota. Was it a true battle or a massacre? Find out at the Amphitheater.
July 31st-August 2nd Help Us solve the mysteries
Friday, July 31st
- CSI: What tree is it? Discover the wonderful world of trees at the Amphitheater. Explore what trees grow well in North Dakota, how does a tree’s leaves enable it to survive, and the difference between deciduous and coniferous trees. We will wrap up the evening with a talk about how trees can help benefit wildlife.
Saturday, August 1st
- Dakota Explorers Program at the Picnic Shelter.
- CSI: Nature Hunt. Nature is all around you, go out and discover it! Explore various ways you can cure your nature cravings. Find ways you can enhance your viewing of big game wildlife, birding techniques and tips, and unique ways to take better wildlife pictures at the Amphitheater.
August 7th-9th (KIDS WEEKEND)
Friday, August 7th
- Bears, Toys, & Games. Oh MY!! Discover why children across the cultures here in the Northeastern area of North Dakota like the toys and games that they have. The games and toys discussed will be old and modern. We will explore the origin of the teddy bear and why it is still a popular toy to this day. Come and play at the Amphitheater!
Saturday, August 8th
- Kids weekend with crafts, ironkids, etc. Various locations for various activities including the fishing docks, beach, and the Picnic Shelters.
August 14th-16th (A Weekend Outdoors)
Friday, August 14th
- Explore the various ND hiking routes and opportunities that our state provides. The Gunlogson Trail, Maah Daah Hey Trail, and the North Country trails here in North Dakota will be discussed and discovered in full detail with pictures about the trails. Tips on hiking gear will be offered to the crowd to make their experience on the trails an enjoyable one. Meet at the Amphitheater.
Saturday, August 15th
- It doesn’t need to be Thanksgiving to talk Turkey! Make Turkey puppets at the Picnic Shelter
- Walking Outdoors, Gobble, Gobble, Gobble; calling in the Turkeys. Find out about the historical significance of the bird that just about became the bird of our nation. We will explore ways you can help out the turkey population in your own area and we will have a demonstration on turkey calling. Strut your stuff at the Amphitheater.
August 21st – 23rd Theme: What’s that Whistle?
Friday August 21st
- Steamboats on the Red. Find out how the Anson Northup made history by being the first steamboat on the Red River. How did these boats change the culture of the Natives living in North Dakota? Discover how steamboats helped our state grow and progress at the Amphitheater.
Saturday August 22nd
- Dakota Explorers Program at the Picnic Shelter.
- Choo, Choo: The Railroads in North Dakota. How did the railroads affect the cultural landscape here in North Dakota. Why did the railroads come here to North Dakota? Also, discover how the railroads helped to make North Dakota a state full of ghost towns. Learn how the railroads are helping North Dakota economically today at the Amphitheater.
August 28-30th Theme: Predators on the Prowl
Friday August 28th
- Coyote. Live demonstrations of coyote howling will entice these wily critters to come out and play amongst the crowd. Find out where this animal lives and its habits at the Amphitheater.
Saturday August 29th
- Dakota Explorers Program at the Picnic Shelter.
- Foxes. What does the fox like to eat for lunch? Explore the habits, plus the problems the red fox faces as its numbers go down in our state.
September 4th – 6th Theme: Nasty Nature
Friday September 4th
- The Nuisances of Nature. Nature can be beautiful, but it can also be nasty. Wood ticks can make people’s skin crawl. What is Emerald Ash Borer, and how can it harm our rural and urban areas in North Dakota? Mosquitoes - why do they annoy us and why do they bite? Meet at the Amphitheater for an at length discussion of these pests.
Saturday September 5th
- Sharp Like a Razor: Porcupines. Learn why a porcupine can get nasty if you cross his path. Discover ways to avoid porcupines and what to do if one does get nasty with you at the Amphitheater
