Book Club Meets at Missouri-Yellowstone Confluence Center

The 'Reading on the Frontier' book club will discuss the first half of 'The Woman in White' by Wilkie Collins.

Published on Feb. 10, 2026

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The 'Reading on the Frontier' book club will meet on Saturday, March 7 from 1-2:30 p.m. at the Missouri-Yellowstone Confluence Interpretive Center near Williston, North Dakota. The group will discuss the first half of the 1859 Victorian sensation novel 'The Woman in White' by Wilkie Collins. The event is part of the ND250 commemoration celebrating the country's 250th birthday.

Why it matters

Book clubs and reading were highly valued on the 19th-century American frontier, with soldiers even fighting to keep their post libraries when reassigned. This event highlights the importance of literature and intellectual discourse in remote frontier communities.

The details

The 'Reading on the Frontier' book club meeting is recommended for adults and older teens, and no prior historical knowledge is required. Participants are encouraged to read through the chapter titled 'The Story Continued by Frederick Fairlie, Esq.' in advance, as the second half of the novel will be discussed in April.

  • The book club meeting will take place on Saturday, March 7, 2026 from 1-2:30 p.m. Central time.
  • The Missouri-Yellowstone Confluence Interpretive Center is open Tuesday-Saturday, 9 a.m.-5 p.m., and closed Sunday-Monday.

The players

Missouri-Yellowstone Confluence Interpretive Center

A historic site managed by the State Historical Society of North Dakota, located near Williston.

State Historical Society of North Dakota

The organization that manages the Missouri-Yellowstone Confluence Interpretive Center and Fort Buford State Historic Site.

Wilkie Collins

The author of the 1859 Victorian sensation novel 'The Woman in White', which will be discussed by the book club.

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What’s next

The second half of 'The Woman in White' will be discussed at the book club's April meeting.

The takeaway

This event highlights the enduring value of literature and intellectual discourse, even in remote frontier communities. The 'Reading on the Frontier' book club provides an opportunity for adults and older teens to engage with classic Victorian fiction and explore the role of books in 19th-century frontier life.