First lady Laura Bush plans to visit a Bismarck school and a rural Morton County church on Thursday.

Laura Bush is going to the Sims Scandinavian Evangelical Lutheran Church at noon Thursday, and Bismarck's Riverside Elementary School just before 2 p-m.

At the school, the first lady intends to promote a National Endowment for the Humanities program called Picturing America. The program brings art work into the nation's schools.

The Sims church is believed to be the oldest Lutheran church building west of the Missouri River. The first church building was built in 1884.
Sims is a ghost town, but the church still hosts Sunday services.

Former North Dakota first lady Nancy Schafer plans to accompany Laura Bush on the trip. Nancy Schafer invited Laura Bush to visit North Dakota.