The landscape along the North Dakota stretch of US-2 consists of immense stretches of hay fields typical of the Great Plains, and only occasional highlights of miniature cattails, goldenrod, and sunflowers. The place names here are decidedly Anglocentric, with towns named Leeds or York after the hometowns of English investors who, during the 1880s, pumped the fledgling towns full of cash. The general population, however, has always been decidedly Scandinavian.
Midway between Devil’s Lake and Minot, Rugby (pop. 2,939) is an important agricultural hamlet, known to road wanderers as the town nearest to the geographical center of North America. The exact spot is marked with a two-story stone cairn along the south side of US-2, in front of the Conoco station. Nearby is the Pioneer Village Geographical Center Museum (summer only; $3), featuring 27 restored buildings—train depot, schoolhouse, even a a reconstruction of a railroad hobo camp—relocated here from around the county, as well as an exhibit on the life of a 8-foot-plus-tall local man, Clifford Thompson. The Cornerstone Cafe, inside the Conoco station, and the Hub of America Motel ($40; 701/776-5833), across US-2, complete the list of reasons to stop.
