Turtle River State Park

Established in 1934, Turtle River State Park has a rich history with several setbacks and successes. Controversy arose when the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) wanted to create the park which required the removal of the Indigenous artifacts. Eventually, the artifacts were removed, and the park was opened and originally named Grand Forks State Park. Given the known weather conditions of Northeast North Dakota, such as heavy snow followed by heavy flooding, it is not surprising that several delays and mishaps occurred as the CCC began building roads and walking paths throughout the park. Although these conditions could have been counteracted with proper measures, the CCC was forced to delay and attempt to abandon construction. Despite these disruptions, construction was successfully completed in 1941.

The Civilian Conservation Corps was created by the Emergency Conservation Work Act to provide jobs for young men during the Great Depression. During the 1930s and 40s, several federal and state parks were created across the United States, including Turtle River State Park. The creation of the park, however, was not the smoothest and eventually, the Civilian Conservation Corps terminated its work at the park in 1937. However, due to the strong support of the Grand Forks community, construction resumed at the park in 1938 and construction was completed in 1941. Of course, the park and its buildings have been remodeled and renovated since its initial completion, such as the CCC Memorial site, or what most people call the picnic shelter, next to Turtle River as well as the Visitor Center. To this day, Turtle River State Park remains a popular destination for families and anyone who enjoys being in nature.

The rich history behind the land that Turtle River State Park rests on is deeply rooted in Indigenous history. When the Civilian Conservation Corps began the archaeological survey of the area, they found Indigenous artifacts throughout the property. The presence of the artifacts told historians and archaeologists that the land had long been used by Native people. According to a report about the discovery of the artifacts, there was a chance some of the artifacts were related to a Native burial ground in the area and further investigation was required. The artifacts were removed under the supervision of the Superintendent of the State Historical Society before construction began. North Dakota has rich Indigenous history, so it was not surprising when roughly 100 other sites along the Great Northern Railway were found in the following years.

Other aspects of the park include the pool added in 1980 and the addition of the bathhouse just before the initial termination in 1937. The bath house was one of the original structures built at Turtle River State Park, but it has since been removed in one of the remodeling projects. The pool was a unique addition in that it may not be the type of pool most people immediately think of. The pool was built by damming the river and excavating above the dam constructed. The pool was created more “organically” than other pools because rather than adding man-made materials, the pool was created using more environmentally friendly techniques, such as damming the river the way it did at Turtle River State Park. Other than the pool, some of the more popular activities around the park include camping, hiking, and mountain biking. There are also winter activities such as cross-country skiing and sledding available.

Turtle River State Park has a complex past, from being the site of Indigenous remains and artifacts to nearly being shut down before it ever opened. Tourists can enjoy the adventure and the history of the park through its many activities and visiting buildings such as the Visitor Center. Opened in 1941, Turtle River State Park is a site worth seeing and learning about in person by visiting and taking part in the many activities the park offers.

Brown, P. V. (1937, August 26). Correspondence, 1935-1951. Grand Forks, North Dakota; UND Library, Special Collections.

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Grand Forks State Park. (1935). (rep.). Monthly Narrative Report (Vol. 45, pp. 1–3). Arvilla, ND.

Gibbs, G. (1935, October 8). Correspondence, 1935-1951. Grand Forks, North Dakota; UND Library, Special Collections.

Gronvold, M. N. (1936, September 22). Correspondence, 1935-1951. Grand Forks, North Dakota; UND Library, Special Collections.

UND Library, Special Collections. (1935, December 29). Correspondence, 1935-1951. Grand Forks, North Dakota.

Mulhern, T. N. (1993). The Civilian Conservation Corps in Grand Forks County, North Dakota 1935- 1941: Turtle River State Park Project. (dissertation). UND Library, Special Collections, Grand Forks, ND.

UND Library, Special Collections. (n.d.). Job Number 6656 Turtle River State Park Swimming Pool, Arvilla, North Dakota. Grand Forks.

UND Library, Special Collections. (1938). Master Plan Report 1938. Grand Forks.