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| NorthDakotaXL » Tourist attraction of North Dakota » Belle Mehus Auditorium
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Belle Mehus Auditorium |
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The Belle Mehus Auditorium stands in all its splendid glory and pride in Bismarck, which has for long been the home for the Bismarck-Mandan Symphony. Named after one of the all time favorite music teachers of Bismarck, the Auditorium was once the pride of the city, for it was the center of classic art and culture in the early 20 th century. The first show was conducted on 19 th January 1914 and has hosted many musicals, poetry shows, recitations, opera shows, film screenings and live performances. Located in downtown Bismarck, the Belle Mehus Auditorium is just a few blocks away from the Bismarck Civic Center.
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The Belle Mehus Auditorium enjoys an interesting history. Since its inception, this historic building had hosted some of the most popular and famous performances. Desig ned by Van Hom, a North Dakotan architect and built by the Bismarck Construction Company, the building is an architectural marvel. The Auditorium boasts of hosting some of the legendary sopranos, tenors, baritones, contraltos, violinists, ballet dancers, pianists and many local productions. The sound quality inside the Auditorium was said to be magnificent. The Belle Mehus Auditorium enjoyed a special status in Bismarck and was the hub of then popular art.
However by the 1940s, with the end of the second World War and with the growth of alternative forms of entertainment, the Belle Mehus Auditorium was facing a downhill. It was not until the late nineties when an intense drive by lovers of art, art associations, officials and private companies such as the General Motors that a renovation of the languished auditorium began to take place. The influential and the rich especially pitched in to raise money and support for the same. Today the Belle Mehus Auditorium has regained its past glory and is part of the National Register of Historic Places.
The Auditorium has five parking places and tickets can be collected on the night of the show from counters in the nearby Bismarck Civic Center. As part of the downtown Bismarck, the Belle Mehus Auditorium represents the love for art and in the city and the rich culture of North Dakota.
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