Fargo in North Dakota is a city with an interesting history and great sights. Founded in 1871, Fargo began as a small settlement where the Northern Pacific Railroad crossed the Red River. It was named after William G. Fargo, a director of the Northern Pacific Railroad and co-founder of Wells Fargo Express Company. Hereafter the city quickly grew from a rough frontier town into a bustling hub of commerce and industry. By the end of the 1800s, Fargo had established itself as a centre in the region, attracting settlers with the promise of fertile farmland in the Red River Valley.

Fargo’s early growth was not without challenges. The young city was hit by a devastating fire in 1893, that swept through the city and destroyed much of the downtown area. Fargo kind as rose from the ashes when the Fargoans rebuilt their city with even greater determination. The new buildings, designed by talented regional architects, gave Fargo a more attractive and more modern period appearance, and a lot of the structures from those days are still standing today as a witness of the strong spirit.

A tour in Fargo will normally start with a walk on N Broadway in the historic downtown area. It is a charming street where old and new architecture stand side by side, and this is the place for some of the most well-know heritage buildings in the city. One of the most iconic structures in Fargo is the Fargo Theatre, built in 1926 on N Broadway. The place is a masterpiece of an art deco movie theater, which is renovated to former glory and active as one of the cultural hubs in Fargo. A bit to the south, you can see the Black Building from 1931, which was North Dakota’s tallest building for five years, until the state Capitol in Bismarck was completed.

Another must-see is the Plains Art Museum, housed in a renovated International Harvester warehouse a few blocks from N Broadway. The museum features a diverse collection of contemporary regional artwork and American Modernism, and it is a great choice for art lovers. You can also visit the Cathedral of St. Mary, which was completed in 1899 in Romanesque Revival style with impressive stained glass windows. Close to downtown, you can also see the Northern Pacific Railway Depot, the railway station that played a pivotal role to the city from the foundation.

Fargo is located by the western shores of the Red River in the state of North Dakota. East of the river, you will find the city of Moorhead in Minnesota. Moorhead has its sights as well and one of them is the Rourke Art Museum. The museum building was originally the Moorhead Federal Post Office, and after redevelopment it now houses an impressive collection of regional and national art. You can also visit the Hjemkomst Center in Moorhead. The center celebrates Norwegian heritage with a viking ship replica, the Hopperstad Stave Church replica, and interesting exhibitions about various themes.