In 1930, a border crossing was established to connect the towns of Boissevain, Manitoba and Dunseith, North Dakota. Two years later, a park was opened alongside the crossing. The park, which is 3.65 square miles in area, was named the International Peace Garden – a symbol of the peaceful relationship between the USA and Canada.
In 1956, the North Dakota Motor Vehicle Department began placing the words "Peace Garden State" on license plates. It proved so popular that the state legislature adopted it as an official nickname a year later.
© Haydn Thompson 2021