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| Photograph ©Bev and Steve |
Address:
604 East Boulevard Avenue
Bismarck, North Dakota 58505
(800) 472-2104
Constructed in the early nineteenth century, this venerable edifice initially served as the home to state offices, housing distinguished entities such as the Historical Society, the State Library, and the Supreme Court. The hallowed halls of this building, cloaked in history, have become the backdrop to a series of eerie and unexplained occurrences, unraveling tales of spectral encounters that have left indelible impressions on those who once toiled within.
During the early 1970s, James Sperry, then superintendent of the Historical Society, found himself at the epicenter of inexplicable events. One fateful evening, with his loyal companion "Shadow" by his side, James experienced an unsettling incident. While engaging in a break-time chat with Historical Society archivist Frank Vyzraiek, Shadow, typically a stalwart presence, suddenly exhibited signs of distress. Growling, baring teeth, and ears laid back, the canine dashed down hallways and into the basement, only to return moments later, visibly shaken and whimpering. Another peculiar incident unfolded when, while working late, James took the elevator to the basement. Upon arrival, he witnessed a mysterious man entering a storage room. Intrigued, James followed, only to discover an empty room with a single entrance and the light switched off.
Liess Vantine, another employee, shared an uncanny experience. Working late with colleague Craig Gannon, Liess ventured to the basement, drawn by what he believed were Craig's calls. However, upon reaching the basement, Craig was nowhere to be found. To their mutual bewilderment, Craig insisted he had neither been to the basement nor called out for Liess.
Walter Bailey, a Historic Preservationist, recounted a persistent feeling of being unwelcome when attempting to work late. He attested to the disconcerting sensation that an unseen force urged him to vacate the premises. Bailey also reported hearing footsteps on the first-floor hallways, yet upon investigation, the floors would be eerily vacant.
Accounts of the paranormal extended beyond the personal experiences of employees. Between the early seventies and the early eighties, reports circulated of inexplicable sounds such as coughing, mysterious doors opening and closing, and lights flickering without discernible cause. However, these haunting tales ceased after the Historical Society relocated in the early eighties. Speculation lingers as to whether the spectral presence has moved on or if the absence of reports is simply a consequence of the building being bereft of living occupants during the twilight hours. The echoes of this historic structure, resonating with both tangible history and ethereal mysteries, leave a lingering aura that transcends the passage of time.