Land Office Bank

In the Land Office Bank, settlers could file the claims to get their property through the Homestead Act of 1862. When the Northern Pacific Railroad planned its route through the Dakota Territory, it bought thousands of acres, which the company was forced to sell when it went bankrupt in the economic crisis of 1873. Because of the bankruptcy, land prices dropped considerably. After the first bonanza farm of the area, the Cass-Cheney-Dalrymple farm, proved the fertileness and economic potential of the Red River Valley, there was a new rush to buy land and start farms.

This bank is a replica of one in Cogswell, ND. The Bonanzaville Belles, part of the Cass County Historical Society, headed the creation of the Land Office Bank. Inside the bank, you can see the paperwork settlers had to fill out to receive their land titles under the Homestead Act.