Circle of Cultures attendance exceeds expectations
NEWS RELEASE
For Immediate Release
Nov. 4, 2004
For more information contact
Marion Houn
Event Coordinator, Circle of Cultures
701-663-4758
A combination of out-of-state visitors, North Dakota residents and thousands of school kids resulted in an estimated 50,000 people attending the 10-day "Circle of Cultures" Lewis and Clark national signature event in Bismarck.
The estimated attendance far exceeded expectations of the event organizers.
"From Day One, when the opening ceremony and all of the general sessions were standing room only, we knew we exceed attendance expectations" said event coordinator Marion Houn. "We couldn't be more pleased with attendance and how smoothly the event ran."
Based on attendance at breakout sessions and the number of vehicles in parking lots and overflow parking, the estimated attendance of 50,000 far exceeds the 30,000 people organizers had originally hoped would attend.
"Circle of Cultures" was organized by the Fort Abraham Lincoln Foundation with assistance from the Bismarck-Mandan Convention and Visitors Bureau, the Bismarck-Mandan Chamber of Commerce, North Dakota Tourism, The Bismarck Tribune, the event host University of Mary, and many other partnerships and volunteers.
Sara Otte Coleman, director of the Tourism Division, said, "We're thankful that so many North Dakotans attended the event, but we're also pleased that people from out of state were able to experience our Legendary culture, history and hospitality."
Visitors from 38 states and seven countries signed the guest book at the event. Attendance was also bolstered by the more than 10,000 school kids from across the state who took in the event.
Many attending "Circle of Cultures" also stopped at other Lewis and Clark attractions. Visitation was up for the month of October at Fort Abraham Lincoln State Park and Five Nations Arts in Mandan, the Lewis and Clark Interpretive Center and Fort Mandan near Washburn, as well as the Knife River Indian Village near Stanton.
A legacy of the signature event, which ended Oct. 31, will be around for many years. The four earthlodge replicas will have a new home, one each going to the cities of Mandan, Twin Buttes, Mandaree and White Shield, where they will be reconstructed. And the "virtual village" 3-D movie will be converted into an interactive computer format to be on display at Fort Abraham Lincoln State Park.
The Mandan, Hidatsa and Arikara Nation will host North Dakota's next signature event, "Home of Sakakawea" Aug. 17-20, 2006, at Fort Berthold. The event will mark the 200th anniversary of the Corps of Discovery's joyful return to the Knife River Indian Villages.
