Sand Dune was formed in 1886. The town name was changed to McLeod in 1905 after the real estate developer who was influential in promoting the community. Although the history of those early days is not completely recorded, a few remaining old timers in the area say there was a general store in town in the early days. It was said to have been destroyed by fire.

McLeod, North Dakota  is located 55 miles southwest of Fargo and is the gateway to the Sheyenne National Grasslands and Sheyenne Delta, with the largest density of the northern tall grass prairie.  On the third Saturday of August, McLeod willingly and gracefully becomes home to the "Cowboy Up Ride Against Cancer"

Cowboy Up Ride Againt Cancer


Though the village of McLeod, North Dakota  itself has only 26 citizens, the population can grow to over 1000 when we host our ride there, but they don't hesitate to open their hearts and their community to us when we ask to come back.
It is for that reason, that we have invited McLeod to become part of our home on the internet and dedicated a section of our website to them.

This section is just in the beginning stages so we hope you will come back often and watch it grow.

McLEOD MUSEUM COMPLEX         SOO LINE DEPOT The Depot was brought back to McLeod in 2002 after being on a farmstead for 39 years a few miles out of town.  Though the barn had been neglected for many years, lots of TLC and paint has brought the depot back to life and is now of the Museum's main attractions.  The Soo Line Railroad shipped everything from cream to cattle out of McLeod.  Over one million pounds of June grass was shipped from a yard just north of McLeod owned by a Kansas City Company back in the 1940's.  Over 150 local people were employed in the drying yards just north of town during the busy time.    Presbyterian Church dedication, McLeod, N.D. PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH McLeod Historical and Preservation Society Built in 1909 and located on First Street it is home to the McLeod Historical and Preservation Society.  The Society has grown in recent years to become a complex of building sites.  The main museum is housed in this church.  There, artifacts and historical documents make this a learning site for future generations.

ONE-ROOM SCHOOL HOUSE

The school house operated from 1904-2002.  This recently acquired site is the McLeod Historical and Preservation Society's next project for renovation.  This school house holds many memories for the sones and daughters of McLeod, and this renovation will be a true act of love to preserve our small town heritage.
 

HOMESTEAD HOUSE

This home was originally Northwest of McLeod and built in the late 1800's; by Christine Ankerfelt Bowden.  One of our current residents wrote out her wedding invitations from this house.  Her parents lived there while their farm was being built.
 

SHEYENNE VALLEY GRAZING ASSOCIATION

Incorporated in 1941, has its headquarters on Main Street.  The Dakota Sandhills Feeders sales barn, which still stands just north of town, once held the largest sale in history of the organization in 1962.  Sales topped the $1 millon mark for the sale of 8,621 head of cattle.
 

THE DUNER (SAND DUNE SALOON)

Otherwise known by many as the infamous "Penny Bar," is located on Main Street, it was owned and operated by Janice Herbranson.  Janice was the school teacher in town for 31 years.  She was featured on national television, in "People" magazine, National Geographic and in international newspapers as one of the only one room schoolhouses left in the country.  Janice was the lowest paid teacher in the country.  A letter from President Reagan to Janice still hangs in the school house. The bar is now called "The Duner" and is operated by Janice's son Mark Herbranson. 

SHEYENNE NATIONAL GRASSLANDS

The grasslands surrounding McLeod support one of the world's largest populations of the threatened Western Prairie White-Fringed Orchid, and is home to the prairie chicken and the sharp-tail grouse.