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Park: "Medicine Wheel Park"
Section: General
Location
Address:
400 Winter Show Road
Valley City, ND 58072
United States
Valley City, ND 58072
United States
Lat / Lon:
46° 56.06' N
098° 01.42' W
098° 01.42' W
Area:
30 acres
Directions:
Exit 292 off I94 at Valley City, North Dakota, go south on 8th Ave. and turn right on Winter Show Road. Park is on left at top of hill (about 4 blocks past turn).
Roadmap:
Amenities
Toilets:
No
Showers:
No
Water:
No
Picnic Tables:
Yes
Fire Rings:
No
Fire Wood:
No
Dump Station:
No
Laundry:
No
Internet:
No
Swimming:
No
Fishing:
No
Boating:
No
Store:
No
Garbage:
No
Playground:
No
Nature Center:
No
Activities:
The Park features two solar calendars: A horizon calendar (the medicine wheel) and a meridian or noontime calendar. Other aspects of this unique 30-acre Park include Native American burial mounds, solar system model, the North Country National Scenic Trail and other woodland nature trials, several scenic overlooks of the Sheyenne River valley and Valley City, and a 3000 square foot perennial flower garden.
The Medicine Wheel’s large circle measures 213 feet around. The 28 spokes radiating from its center represent the number of days in the lunar cycle. Six spokes extending well beyond the Wheel are aligned to the horizon positions of sunrises and sunsets on the first days of the four seasons.
Native American Burial Mounds:
The twelve burial mounds existing within the borders of the Park are part of a larger group first charted by T. H. Lewis on October 29, 1883. These mounds are typical of the complex cemeteries used for hundreds of years by the Plains Woodland Indians during periods dating from the 500 to 2000 years ago.
A Walking Tour of the Solar System:
The Solar System model stretches from the Sun (in the center of the Medicine Wheel) to Pluto, one third of a mile away near Regional Technology Center. Boulders representing the planets are spaced in exact proportion to their distances from the Sun (1 foot = 3 million miles).
A Meridian Calendar:
The utility pole nearest to the Medicine Wheel serves as a reminder of another ancient method of keeping track of the seasons. This type of calendar uses the length of the shadow cast by an object at local apparent noon. Three large rocks located north of the pole mark the top of the pole’s shadow at the beginning of each season.
North Country National Scenic Trail (NCT):
The NCT is a 4,600 mile across seven northern states linking North Dakota to New York. A segment of this trail winds through the wooded hillside of the Park and along a concrete path marking the planets of the Solar System
The Medicine Wheel’s large circle measures 213 feet around. The 28 spokes radiating from its center represent the number of days in the lunar cycle. Six spokes extending well beyond the Wheel are aligned to the horizon positions of sunrises and sunsets on the first days of the four seasons.
Native American Burial Mounds:
The twelve burial mounds existing within the borders of the Park are part of a larger group first charted by T. H. Lewis on October 29, 1883. These mounds are typical of the complex cemeteries used for hundreds of years by the Plains Woodland Indians during periods dating from the 500 to 2000 years ago.
A Walking Tour of the Solar System:
The Solar System model stretches from the Sun (in the center of the Medicine Wheel) to Pluto, one third of a mile away near Regional Technology Center. Boulders representing the planets are spaced in exact proportion to their distances from the Sun (1 foot = 3 million miles).
A Meridian Calendar:
The utility pole nearest to the Medicine Wheel serves as a reminder of another ancient method of keeping track of the seasons. This type of calendar uses the length of the shadow cast by an object at local apparent noon. Three large rocks located north of the pole mark the top of the pole’s shadow at the beginning of each season.
North Country National Scenic Trail (NCT):
The NCT is a 4,600 mile across seven northern states linking North Dakota to New York. A segment of this trail winds through the wooded hillside of the Park and along a concrete path marking the planets of the Solar System
Administration
Office:
No
Phone Numbers:
Main:
(701) 845-7334
Ownership:
Other
Open Dates:
Year round
Open Times:
dawn to dusk
Fee Structure:
Free
Restrictions
Pets:
Only on Leash
Weather
Weather:
Data provided by the National Weather Service.
Jamestown Municipal Airport as of 2008/10/08 05:56
Conditions
- 50°F
Wind
- 5 mph
- From the SSE
Pressure
- 29.82 inHg
Humidity
- Relative 57%
- Dew Point 35°F
Visibility
- 10 mi
Forecast: