The World War Memorial Building, the current City Hall and home to Dakota Star Gymnastic, in Mandan. Photo from the 1950s.

Restoring History
Dustin White

Over the years, the city of Mandan has changed drastically. Many of the old landmarks have succumbed to the test of time, and are just a memory. However, there are a number of these building that continue to not only exist today, but still hold a real function in the city.

One such building is the World War Memorial Building, which was completed in 1937. Upon the completion, N.D. Supreme Court Justice A.M. Christianson would call it “a living memorial, a daily tribute to our men who our men who gave their lives in the great World War.”

Construction on the building had began in 1932, as “The Great Depression” was wreaking chaos across the country. Federal funds were provided for the building, having been a Works Progress Administration project.



When it first opened, it included an auditorium, offices for the local chamber of commerce, meeting rooms for small groups, a fully equipped kitchen and the largest indoor swimming pool in the state. It was also the only municipally owned indoor pool in North Dakota.

The pool would’t be long lived. In 1941, after the county courthouse on the hill burned, the pool area would transform in order to house the records and offices from the courthouse. This situation would remain in place until 1956, when a new courthouse was completed.

The building itself as meant to serve as community center, and it would boast one of the finest auditoriums in the state. With room to seat 3,000, the space had two balconies, and included a full stage, with lighting. It was made to configure as a full-size basketball court, or serve as a dance floor.

Later on, the building would serve as the headquarters for Company A, 131st Engineers Combat Battalion of the N.D. National Guard. The headquarters would eventually move as a new Armory was built north of Mandan High School.

In 1939, the World War Memorial Building as housed the first public city library. Opening in the southeast corner of the basement, in March 1939, a 99 year lease was signed by the city. The library would be able to remain at the location for no cost, but was responsible for its own utilities.

As part of the lease, the library had to guarantee that it would be open at least two nights a week, as well as supply a free reading room. To help defray operation costs, patrons of the library had to pay a subscription fee.

In June of 2006, Mandan residents made the decision to consolidate the city and county libraries, and the Morton Mandan Public Library would relocate to its current location at 609 West Main Street.

Eventually, the structure of the World War Memorial Building would undergo a few changes. It would be retrofitted with a modern air conditioning system. In the process, several windows on its south face were eliminated, while the rest were replaced.

The pool would also eventually be changed. Due to problems with the water treatment system, it was filled in in the late 1960s.

While the building would change a bit over the years, it continues to stand as a reminder; a way to recognize the military veterans of World War I.