Pacific Hotel opens (later named Grand Pacific Hotel)
1882
Northern Pacific completes construction of the bridge connecting Bismarck & Mandan, it opens on October 21
Construction commences in June for the Bismarck National Bank building at a cost of $35,000. It will be the city’s largest private building upon completion. The bank rebrands as BNC National Bank in 1995 upon acquiring Metropolitan Federal Bank from Minneapolis-based First Bank System Inc.
1883
Territorial capital of Dakota Territory is moved from Yankton to Bismarck. Construction commences on a capitol building.
Dakota Block is completed, Bismarck’s second oldest surviving building (October)
Several other significant construction projects include the First National Bank building for $65,000, the territorial prison for $50,000, the North Ward School (high school) for $30,000, and the Merchants National bank for $27,000.
Territorial prison is opened, now known as the North Dakota State Penitentiary
Fire destroys the Bismarck Tribune building on the 200 block of Main Avenue. The paper moves to the original Webb Building.
Original Morton County Courthouse is completed. The brick building is destroyed by fire in 1941.
1886
Alexander McKenzie establishes the city’s first water system, pumping unfiltered river water through a system of pipes. It remained a privately-owned system until 1923, when residents passed a bond measure to acquire the water department and fund a filtration plant.
Citizens petition to change the name of Meigs Street to Broadway, which is accepted and adopted in March.
1887
A ten-day blizzard buries the region (January)
First graduating class consists of two students
Hughes Electric is established by Alexander and Edmond Hughes. The company is instrumental in bringing electric power to the region. It is sold in 1928 to a company that is ultimately acquired by MDU.
1889
Bismarck assumes role as capital of North Dakota upon officially entering statehood
