Historical societies in Bismarck and Mandan are in different stages of development.

Anyone interested in becoming a charter member of the Bismarck Historical Society can attend a public meeting at 7 tonight in the basement meeting room of Bismarck Public Library. Jim Christianson, who was elected president at the group's organizational meeting in March, said tonight's meeting will help determine public support for a local historical society.

"Right now we're trying to find our way, and a reason for the meeting is to get input from people," said Christianson. He said the organization's focus is "to promote Bismarck history and make it more accessible to people."

As part of the group's promotion of local history, the Bismarck Tribune will soon be featuring a daily historic column called "It happened in Bismarck." The column will be produced and edited by the Bismarck Historical Society historian. A television series on historic downtown buildings will be shown on KFYR television. One project the group has completed is a reprinting of the Historic Downtown Bismarck booklet initially published by the Bismarck Downtowners organization in 1989.

Christianson also said the group's board of directors is considering four designs for the society's logo. The logo will be used extensively on stationery and the group's publications, Christianson said.

Annual memberships are $10 for students, $25 for individuals and $40 for families. All members will receive a copy of the Historic Downtown Bismarck booklet. Christianson said the money raised through memberships will be used to promote the society. "Right now we have no huge capital needs," he said, "but we are working on some things that will need money." Two Items needing money are an interactive Web site and quarterly newsletter, Christianson said.

Mandan also has organized a local history group and residents with an interest in history have been meeting for more than a year since the Mandan Historical Society was formed in March 2004. Debbie Holter, who is the group's secretary, said meetings are held the third Monday of each month at 7:30 p.m. in the Mandan Public Library. Meetings are free and open to the public, and a guest speaker is scheduled for each meeting.

"We haven't been around that long but we're trying," said Holter, "and everybody is free to come and try us out." Presently there are 80 dues-paying members, including some from Texas, Maryland, California and Washington. Dues to the society are $10 for individuals and $15 for families. Holter said plans include organizing a celebration of Mandan's 125th anniversary and opening a museum of Mandan's history.

The logo for the Mandan Historical Society is the city's familiar symbol of Blue Thunder on the Mandan Fire Station. The symbol has been used by the city since 1928 and was modeled after a person from Cannon Ball on the Standing Rock Indian Reservation south of Mandan. Blue Thunder was the person who kept the winter population count and also was a translator to the Army at Fort Abraham Lincoln in the late 1800s, Holter said.

One member of the Mandan Historical Society is Bob Barr, who looks at acquisitions for the group. In the future a quarterly newsletter for members would be beneficial, said Holter.