From CCC to Infantry

Step back in time and explore the story of the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) at Fort Abraham Lincoln State Park during this immersive living history event.

Throughout the day, interpreters will bring the 1930s to life by sharing what daily life was like for the average CCC enrollee. Learn how young North Dakotans joined the program during the Great Depression and helped develop many of the state and national parks we still enjoy today—including Fort Abraham Lincoln.

The event will also highlight the connection between the CCC and military service in the years leading up to World War II. The discipline, structure, and skills learned in the CCC prepared many enrollees for service as the nation mobilized for war in the early 1940s.

Visitors can explore demonstrations and ongoing interpretation throughout the park that showcase CCC tools, equipment, camp life, and the administrative and military-style organization that shaped the program. Special educational talks will also dive deeper into the role of the CCC and its connection to the North Dakota National Guard.

Join us for a day of history, storytelling, and hands-on learning about the program that helped shape North Dakota’s parks and prepared a generation for service. The event is free of charge and open to the public. An annual or daily vehicle permit is required for park entrance and can be purchased online or at the park.