A Century of Railroad History
The Roald Amundsen Pullman Car
The Roald Amundsen Pullman Car was built in 1928 for $205,000. As one of the last cars built by the Pullman Company, the Roald Amundsen is best known for being used by every president from Herbert Hoover through Dwight Eisenhower. It was on this car in 1940 that President Franklin Roosevelt and Canadian Prime Minister W. L. McKenzie King signed the agreement that provided for the joint defense of North America, now known as NORAD. The car was donated to the park in 1971 by Mr. and Mrs. Franz Talley. The car has been placed on the National Historic Register.
Merci Train
Following World War II, many cities of Europe found themselves nearly unable to continue. The rain of bombs and shelling leveled everything. An American Newspaper Columnist, Drew Pearson, wrote an article depicting the hardships Europeans were still enduring. This time instead of the military leading the march, the people of America banded together behind Drew Pearson and delivered more than 250 railroad cars of aid to the people of France. Less than a year later, word got out that France was planning a train of her own. When it arrived, there were (forty-nine) 40 & 8’s carefully packed full of amazing treasures.
For a country who had nothing to spare, France generously gave what was most dear to their hearts, and placed their items on the train as it passed through their town. A list of items would include: wooden shoes, toy Renault cars, wedding dresses, war medals from dead husbands, brothers and sons, children’s dolls, games, brass trumpets and the list goes on. The people of France showed a grand generosity.
The 40 & 8 Boxcar got its name from its use during WW I and WW II as a cargo space large enough to carry 40 men or 8 horses.
Alsace
(äl-sas´) (pron: all-sass)
Capital: Strasbourg (pron: straws-bourg)
French annexation: 1678
The white and gold bands on the coat of arms are symbolic of the former Lower- and Upper-Alsace departments in the province.
Information courtesy of State Historical Society of North Dakota
Angoumois
(äN´gu-mwä´) (pron: ong-goo-mwah)
Capital: Angoulême (pron: ong-goo-lame)
French annexation: 1308
Occupied by Gallic peoples in pre-Roman times, Angoumois was originally part of Charlemagne’s empire.
Information courtesy of State Historical Society of North Dakota
ANJOU
(an´ju) (pron: ann-joo)
Capital: Angers (pron: awn-zhay)
French annexation: 1326
The red border on this shield indicates it was an inherited fief, and the fleurs-de-lys (the royal banner) were added to show Anjou’s annexation to France.
Information courtesy of State Historical Society of North Dakota
Artois
(är-twä) (pron: ahr-twah)
Capital Arras (pron: uh-rahss)
French annexation: 1226
Designed 400 years before Artois became a French province, the nine castles on this shield indicate Artois’ feudal lords at that time.
Information courtesy of State Historical Society of North Dakota
Aunis
(o-nes´) (pron: oh-neese))
Capital: La Rochelle (pron: lah-ruh-shell)
French annexation: 1373
The shield of Aunis, Incorporated into the French crown lands in 1373, features a crowned partridge for which no origin explanation exists.
Information courtesy of State Historical Society of North Dakota
Auvergne
(o-vern´) (pron: oh-vairn)
Capital: Clermont (pron: clare-mone)
French annexation: 1615
The three-pointed banner on this shield was won by crusader Eustace III, when he conquered Jerusalem in 1099.
Information courtesy of State Historical Society of North Dakota
Béarn
(ba-ärn´) (pron: bay-arn))
Capital: Pau (pron: po)
French annexation: 1620
The cows represent the ancient Iberic tribe of Vacceans, said to be the ancestors of the Béarnais.
Information courtesy of State Historical Society of North Dakota
Berry
(be-re´) (pron: beh-ree)
Capital: Bourges (pron: boor-zh)
French annexation: 1601
The scalloped, or invected, border on this shield indicates Berry was an inherited fiefdom.
Information courtesy of State Historical Society of North Dakota
Bourbonnais
(bur-bôN-na´) (pron: boor-bone-ay)
Capital: Moulins (pron: moo-lan)
French annexation: 1527
The diagonal “riband” on this shield may represent knighthood or a ladder for scaling fortification walls.
Information courtesy of State Historical Society of North Dakota
Bourgogne
(bur-gôn´y?) (pron: boor-goan-yuh)
Capital: Dijon (pron: dee-zhawn)
French annexation: 1477
This shield is “quartered,” representing the first (diagonals) and second (fleurs-de-lys) ducal families to rule Bourgogne.
Information courtesy of State Historical Society of North Dakota
Bretagne
(bre-tän´y?) (pron: breh-tawn-yuh))
Capital: Rennes (pron: ren)
French annexation: 1532
The black, tree-like shapes on this shield represent ermine tails, suggesting the expensive furs worn by medieval nobility.
Information courtesy of State Historical Society of North Dakota
CHAMPAGNE
(sham-pan´) (pron: sham-pain)
Capital: Troyes (pron: ter-wah)
French annexation: 1314
Troyes, capital city of Champagne, takes its name from ancient Troy. The intricate diagonal pattern on this shield mimics mazes built in Trojan settlements.
Information courtesy of State Historical Society of North Dakota
COMTAT VENAISSIN
(k?Ntä´v?näsaN´) (pron: kun-tah-vun-ah-san)
Capital: Avignon (pron: ah-vee-nyawn)
French annexation: 1791
The keys are St. Peter’s keys, and refer to the spiritual and temporal powers linked in a single hand, reflecting the province’s 500 years as a papal enclave.
Information courtesy of State Historical Society of North Dakota
COMTE DE FOIX
(koN-ta´fwä) (pron: cone-tay-fwah)
Capital: Foix (pron: fwah)
French annexation: 1589
The vertical colored stripes on this shield may represent strips of metal attached to the original shield, giving it greater strength in battle.
Information courtesy of State Historical Society of North Dakota
COMTE DE NICE
(koN-ta´nes) (pron: cone-tay-neese)
Capital: Nice (pron: neese)
French annexation: 1860
The eagle represents the Holy Roman Germanic Empire, and the rocks are three mountains that surround the city of Nice: Mts. Alban, Gros, and Chauve.
Information courtesy of State Historical Society of North Dakota
CORSICA
(kôr´si-k?) (pron: kor-sick-uh)
Capital: Ajaccio (pron: ah-yaht-cho)
French annexation: 1768
The Moor’s head fits the traditional description of Moors who once occupied parts of Spain, the Mediterranean shore of France, and several Corsican villages.
Information courtesy of State Historical Society of North Dakota
DAUPHINE
(do-fe-na´) (pron: doe-fee-nay))
Capital: Grenoble (pron: gruh-no-buhl)
French annexation: 1349
This “quartered” shield represents the royal banner of France (fluers-de-lys) and the Dauphin (dolphin—“king of fishes”), eldest son of the French king and ruler of the province.
Information courtesy of State Historical Society of North Dakota
FLANDRE
(fläN´dr´) (pron: flawn-der)
Capital: Lille (pron: leel)
French annexation: 1678
During the Crusades of 1177, Philip, count of Flandre, captured a banner bearing a black lion in a victory against the Saracens.
Information courtesy of State Historical Society of North Dakota
FRANCHE-COMTE
(fräNsh-koN-ta) (pron: frawnsh-cone-tah)
Capital: Besançon (pron: bih-zahn-sone)
French annexation: 1678
The lion, king of beasts, was a favorite symbol among fighting men, and this province saw a lot of fighting. The Romans, Franks, Germans, Swiss, Spanish, and French all fought here.
Information courtesy of State Historical Society of North Dakota
GASCOGNE
(gas´k?-ne) (pron: gas-kuh-nee)
Capital: Auch (pron: oh-sh)
French annexation: 1607
Provinces were obliged to have coat of arms and to pay for their registration. Louis XIV granted this coat of arms to Gascogne, in 1696, as a way to raise funds for war—it has no historical significance.
Information courtesy of State Historical Society of North Dakota
GUYENNE
(ge-en´) (pron: ghee-ehn)
Capital: Bordeaux (pron: bore-doh)
French annexation: 1607
Whereas the standing lion on some shields is rearing up, ready to fight, this shield features a leopard on guard.
Information courtesy of State Historical Society of North Dakota
ÎLE DE FRANCE
(el´de-fräNs´) (pron: eel-deh-frawnz)
Capital: Paris (star on map) (pron: pare-iss)
France (original state): 987
Pays de-France became the nucleus of the crown lands when Hugh Capet, Count of Paris, became the French king. The name was changed to Île de France in 1387.
Information courtesy of State Historical Society of North Dakota
LANGUEDOC
(läng-dôk´) (pron: long-doke)
Capital: Toulouse (pron: too-looz)
French annexation: 1271
The cross on this shield is the Cross of Toulouse, possibly a modification of the Latin Cross attributed to the crusades of 1099.
Information courtesy of State Historical Society of North Dakota
LIMOUSIN
Limousin
(le-mu-zaN´) (pron: lee-moo-zan)
Capital: Limoges (pron: lee-moh-zh)
French annexation: 1370
The black, tree-like shapes on this shield represent ermine tails, suggesting the expensive furs worn by medieval nobility.
Information courtesy of State Historical Society of North Dakota
LORRAINE
(lo-ran´) (pron: low-rain)
Capital: Nancy (pron: nahn-see)
French annexation: 1766
Based on legend, the three birds on this shield were killed with the same arrow by Duke Godefroi, during the siege of Jerusalem in 1099. It was considered a good omen.
Information courtesy of State Historical Society of North Dakota
LYONNAIS
(le-ô-ne´) (pron: lee-oh-nay)
Capital: Lyons (pron: lee-own)
French annexation: 1531
In the thirteenth century, the merchants’ guilds revolted against the power of the Archbishop-Count of Lyon. They used a lion on their banners to express their own strength.
Information courtesy of State Historical Society of North Dakota
MAINE
(man) (pron: main)
Capital: Le Mans (pron: luh-mahn)
French annexation: 1481
This coat of arms was adopted from the province of Anjou, the small lion was added to indicate the influence of the English Plantagenet royal family.
Information courtesy of State Historical Society of North Dakota
MARCHE
(marsh) (pron: marsh)
Capital: Guéret (pron: gay-ray)
French annexation: 1531
Used around 1360 by Count Jacques, who inherited the fief, this shield combines the royal banner with three lions from the old arms of the province, those of the Lusignan family.
Information courtesy of State Historical Society of North Dakota
NAVARRE
(ne-vär´) (pron: nuh-var)
Capital: Pamplona, Spain (orig.), Pau, France (Béarn) (pron: po) French annexation: 1589
Originally part of a Basque region in both Spain and France, a portion was united with Béarn into a French province, retaining the gem and chains symbols from the Spanish national coat of arms.
Information courtesy of State Historical Society of North Dakota
NIVERNAIS
(niv´er-na´) (pron: nih-vuhr-nay)
Capital: Nevers (pron: nuh-vare)
French annexation: 1669
The scalloped, or invected, border on this shield indicates Berry was an inherited fiefdom.
Information courtesy of State Historical Society of North Dakota
NORMANDIE
(nôr´men-de) (pron: nor-mun-dee)
Capital: Rouen (pron: roo-ahn)
French annexation: 1450
This coat of arms is said to have been those of Guillaume (William) le Bâtard, the duke of Normandie, who defeated the English at Hastings and was crowned king of England in 1066.
Information courtesy of State Historical Society of North Dakota
ORLÉANAIS
(ôr´le-e-na´) (pron: oar-lee-uh-nay)
Capital: Orléans (pron: oar-lay-ahn)
French annexation: tenth century
In 1344 the king of France, Philippe de Valois, granted Orléanais to his son, Philippe. This shield carries the royal banner (fleurs-de-lys) and a white ribbon, indicating the inheritance.
Information courtesy of State Historical Society of North Dakota
Picarde
(pik´er-de) (pron: pick-uhr-dee)
Capital: Amiens (pron: ah-mee-ann)
French annexation: 1477
This coat of arms is shown “quartered,” containing arms of the original region of Picardie with those of both Île de France and Buorgogne.
Information courtesy of State Historical Society of North Dakota
POITOU
(pwä-tu´) (pron: pwah-too)
Capital: Poitiers (pron: pwah-tee-ay)
French annexation: 1453
Poitou was given to Alphonse de France, Count of Toulouse, by his father, King Louis VIII. This coat of arms comes from his mother, Blanche of Castille (Spain).
Information courtesy of State Historical Society of North Dakota
PROVENCE
(pre-väns´) (pron: pruh-vahns)
Capital: Aix-en-Provence (pron:ake-sahn-pruh-vahns)
French annexation: 1486
These arms are a simplification of the arms of Charles I d’Anjou. He was count of Anjou, Maine, and Provence, as well as King of Sicily, Naples, Albania and Jerusalem.
Information courtesy of State Historical Society of North Dakota
ROUSSILLON
(ru-se-yôN´) (pron: roo-see-yawn)
Capital: Perpignan (pron: pare-pee-nyawn)
French annexation: 1659
The four red stripes on this shield recall the province’s years as a Spanish possession.
Information courtesy of State Historical Society of North Dakota
SAINTONGE
(saNtôNsh´) (pron: san-tone-zsh)
Capital: Saintes (pron: sahnt)
French annexation: 1375
The bishop’s miter refers to St. Eutrope, first bishop of Saintes and apostle of Saintonge, martyrized in the third century.
Information courtesy of State Historical Society of North Dakota
SAVOIE
(sävwä´) (pron: saa-vwah)
Capital: Chambéry (pron: shawn-bay-ree)
French annexation: 1860
Called the Cross of Savoy, these arms may have been given by the pope to Amédée of Savoy when he was sent to fight in the crusades.
Information courtesy of State Historical Society of North Dakota
TOURAINE
(to-ren´) (pron: too-rain)
Capital: Tours (pron: tour)
French annexation: 1214
Philippe le Hardi was granted both Touraine and Bourgogne. That is why the arms on this shield are also the first and fourth quarters of the shield of Bourgogne.
Information courtesy of State Historical Society of North Dakota
Vendee
Vendée
(väNda´) (pron: vahn-day)
Capital: La Roche-sur-Yon (pron: lah-rahsh-sur-yawn)
French annexation: 1453 (Poitou)
The Sacred Heart of Vendée was used as an emblem during an insurrection between 1793 and 1796. This coat of arms was adopted in 1943 for Vendée, a department of Poitou.
Information courtesy of State Historical Society of North Dakota