Although Minot was incorporated less than a year after first being settled, the town's outpost location on the frontier made it a magnet for such disreputable elements as cattle rustlers and gamblers. An early reputation for lawlessness was confirmed by the cry of a railway conductor from that era: “MINOT, this is M-I-N-O-T, end of the line. Prepare to meet your God.”
Minot is the home of the North Dakota State Fair , which usually occurs during the last half of July. It's an old-fashioned summer event, offering such activities as livestock shows, country music concerts, auto racing, a demolition derby, rodeo events, arm-wrestling competitions, petting zoos and a carnival midway. Norsk Hostfest , held in late September or early October at the state fairgrounds, features live entertainment highlighting Nordic cultures.
Visitor Centers
Minot Convention and Visitors Bureau 1020 S. Broadway Minot, ND 58702. Phone:(701)857-8206 or (800)264-2626
Shopping
The anchor stores at Dakota Square Mall, 2400 S.W. 10th St., are JCPenney and Scheels.