The 1898 Fire (“Bismarck’s Great Fire”) left much of Bismarck in ruin and forced the city to rebuild, propelling Bismarck into a modern city. Stricter fire codes were enacted and buildings made of brick and concrete replaced the charred wooden frontier structures. Many any of these new buildings were labeled as “fire proof.” The Marshall Oil brick building on 3rd and Front still stands today…and over 125 years later, it continues to thrive as Eclipse Venue, est 2026. Eclipse is a wedding/concert/community hub in the heart of downtown Bismarck. The building is listed on the National List of Historic Places. 

Historical Timeline:

• July 1898: Otto Von Bismarck dies

• 1898: The original brick building was constructed

• 1911: Marshall Oil Company of Marshalltown, Iowa, expanded on the property and the 90x50-foot brick building was used as a warehouse and office

• Intermediate Years: The building was later acquired by Sinclair Refining Company and later used as a warehouse for Fargo Paper Company (now Cole Papers)

• 1984–2001: Several additions and renovations were made to the structure in 1984, 1993, and 2001

• 1994–2023: Borrowed Bucks Roadhouse occupied the space for nearly 30 years, becoming a well-known local bar and nightclub

• 2023: Borrowed Bucks closed and the building sat vacant for over two years

• 2025: The property was purchased by Colton and Samantha Shoults

• 2026: Eclipse Venue opens

(Sources: KFYR-TV, Burleigh County Assessors Office, Bismarck Tribune, Bismancafe.com)