Though Lawrence Welk grew up without a flush toilet in his rural North Dakota childhood home, visitors today can enjoy modern restroom facilities there. This upgrade is the latest achievement in the State Historical Society of North Dakota’s ongoing effort to install flush toilets at its most popular staffed historic sites.
The recent installation at the Welk Homestead comes just before the unveiling of a statue honoring the bandleader, who became famous for “The Lawrence Welk Show,” a beloved TV program that aired for decades starting in the 1950s.
While replacing pit toilets with flush systems might seem modest, it represents an important step for the state’s historic sites, many of which are located in remote areas. Chris Dorfschmidt, a manager for historic sites, explained that history often took place far from convenient locations. “If you’ve driven all the way out there, and that’s the best we can do for accommodations, it’s not the most pleasant experience,” he said.
North Dakota is home to 60 state historic sites, ranging from museums and underground nuclear launch facilities to simple plaques marking historical spots in open fields. “All of our sites tell a part of our state’s story,” Dorfschmidt added.
Two more sites are expected to receive flush toilets by the end of June: Whitestone Hill, where a deadly 1863 attack by U.S. troops against Native Americans occurred, and Fort Buford, a military fort near the meeting point of the Missouri and Yellowstone Rivers.
Looking ahead, the State Historical Society is considering similar restroom upgrades at Chateau de Mores, a large 26-room home built in 1883 by the wealthy Marquis de Mores near Medora, a scenic Badlands town where a young Theodore Roosevelt once lived.
However, less-visited and unstaffed sites are unlikely to get these costly improvements, as each restroom installation runs about $150,000.
At the Welk Homestead, care was taken to blend the restroom’s design with the historic setting, matching the color scheme to that of the house and farm buildings. “We wanted it to harmonize with the site and be a pleasant part of the visitor experience,” said Rob Hanna, another Historic Sites Manager.
