Look back: Photos from COVID-19's eerie onset 5 years later
On the five-year anniversary of the COVID-19 shutdowns, The Forum photo staff looks back on images captured during that time.
North Dakota State University students line up to take pictures with the masked bison statue on campus during orientation day on Friday, Aug. 21, 2020, in Fargo. Alyssa Goelzer / The Forum
FARGO — Just five years ago, the bustling streets and booming businesses in the Fargo-Moorhead area and across the country became vacant, ghostly places.
As the COVID-19 pandemic swept around the globe, life changed for everyone. Here are some of the images from that time when social distancing, masks and staying home were the norm.
The marquee of the Fargo Theatre offers a message to passers-by during the coronavirus pandemic. David Samson / The Forum
Kelsey Buell performs songs on the violin outside of Edgewood Vista for residents of the assisted living facility on Monday, March 30, in Fargo. Tim Flakoll orchestrated the event for his parents, who reside at the assisted living facility. Alyssa Goelzer / The Forum
City staff and visitors are seen sitting outside of the City Commission meeting chambers and watching the meeting on a screen in order to follow social distancing regulations on Monday, April 6, at City Hall in Fargo. Alyssa Goelzer / The Forum
Linnea Testa, a traveling registered nurse from New Hampshire, works with COVID-19 patients at Sanford Broadway Medical Center in downtown Fargo. David Samson / The Forum
Kitty and Jada Jacob mourn the loss of their mother who died in Fargo on Thursday, Nov. 12, from complications of COVID-19. David Samson / The Forum
People get tested for COVID-19 during a free testing event on Wednesday, Sept. 30, at the Moorhead Armory. Alyssa Goelzer / The Forum
Members of the Red River Valley COVID-19 Task Force watch a multimedia campaign promoting mask-wearing on Oct. 2, 2020, at Fargo City Hall. David Samson / The Forum
West Fargo Sheyenne cheerleaders get ready for play against Grand Forks Red River at Essentia Health Mustangs Stadium on Friday, August 28. David Samson / The Forum
Independence Elementary first grade teacher Sydney Bailey speaks to her students on the first day of school in West Fargo on Thursday, Sept. 3, 2020. David Samson / The Forum
Signage reminds customers to mask up at Target in Fargo on Wednesday, March 24, 2021. David Samson / The Forum
Lana Christman wipes down her checkout station Wednesday, April 15, at the Osgood Hornbacher's grocery store in south Fargo. David Samson / The Forum
Bethany Retirement Living employees get tested for COVID-19 from their vehicles on Friday, May 22, in Fargo. Alyssa Goelzer / The Forum
Minnesota residents wait outside of the Moorhead Armory building to receive free COVID-19 testing on Saturday, May 23. Minnesotans who want to be tested for COVID-19 will be able to access free testing at six different National Guard Armory locations across Minnesota from Saturday, May 23, through Monday, May 25. Alyssa Goelzer / The Forum
Kim Krogstad with Clay County Public Health gives a Moorhead Area Public Schools teacher the COVID-19 vaccine on Jan. 28 in Moorhead. Alyssa Goelzer / The Forum
Two-hundred beds have been set up in the Fargodome for use as a field hospital in case coronavirus patients overwhelm medical centers in the metro area. David Samson / The Forum
People gather at St. Joseph's Catholic Church in Moorhead for Sunday Mass for the first time since Minnesota shut down public gathering places in March. The church put up signs on certain pews and tape on the ground to follow social distancing guidelines on Sunday, May 31. Alyssa Goelzer / The Forum
Osgood Hornbacher's store director Pam Seivert places a social distancing guideline decal on the floor by the delicatessen of the south Fargo grocery store on Wednesday, April 15. David Samson / The Forum
A West Fargo volleyball player waves to a paper crowd before their volleyball match against Fargo Davies on Tuesday, Oct. 20, at West Fargo. The Packers were surprised with the stand-in crowd before the game after spectators were barred from attending athletic events. Michael Vosburg / Forum Photo Editor
The crowd follows social distancing guidelines with spaces between groups on Friday, July 3rd, during the Fargo-Moorhead RedHawks season opener against the Winnipeg Goldeyes at Newman Outdoor Field in Fargo.
Alyssa Goelzer / The Forum
The crowd follows social distancing guidelines with spaces between groups on Saturday, July 4th, during the Fargo-Moorhead RedHawks baseball game against the Winnipeg Goldeyes at Newman Outdoor Field in Fargo. Alyssa Goelzer / The Forum
Graduates sit on football field of Sid Cichy Stadium for the Shanley High School commencement ceremony Wednesday, May 20, in Fargo. Parents surrounded the students while social distancing, too. Michael Vosburg / Forum Photo Editor
Fargo South High School students sit 6 feet apart on the football field for their graduation ceremony while friends and family watch from the bleachers on Sunday, May 31, in Fargo. All of the graduates wear masks with their school’s logo printed on it. Alyssa Goelzer / The Forum
Beena Ajmera, assistant professor of civil and environmental engineering, teaches a class in Minard Hall at North Dakota State University. David Samson / The Forum
Movie fans, clockwise from left, Amaya Mielke, Ava Fremgen, Kennedy Middaugh, Alyssa Allen and LiAnna Hoffer, all from Jamestown, N.D., watch "Aladdin" on Monday, June 15, during Drive-In Movie Night at the Red River Valley Fairgrounds in West Fargo. The girls decided to make the road trip to West Fargo for their first drive-in experience. More movie nights are slated for June and July with dates and times listed online at redrivervalleyfair.com/driveinmovies. David Samson / The Forum
A tree along Fifth Street South in Fargo is decorated with a mask and eyes. Today is Arbor Day, which is traditionally celebrated on the first Friday of May in North Dakota. "In 2020, we invite people to plant a tree as a symbol of resilience and hope," State Forester Thomas Claeys said. Alyssa Goelzer / The Forum
Public officials use test tubes to collect saliva for COVID-19 testing on Friday, Oct. 16, at what used to be Thomas Edison Elementary School, located at 1110 14th St. S., Moorhead. Alyssa Goelzer / The Forum
Signage reminds Mapleton residents to keep their distance to stop the spread on COVID-19. David Samson / The Forum
People wrapped in their winter gear get tested for COVID-19 during Family HealthCare’s outdoor COVID-19 testing event on Thursday, Oct. 22, in Fargo. Alyssa Goelzer / The Forum
Fargo Mayor Tim Mahoney speaks as the Red River Valley COVID-19 Task Force unveils a multimedia campaign to educate and promote the reasons that masks are crucial in the mitigation of COVID-19. At the City Commission meeting Monday, Oct. 5, he voted against a mask mandate for the city of Fargo. David Samson / The Forum
Signage requiring shoppers to wear masks to fight the spread COVID-19 is displayed outside of Vinyl Giant in downtown Fargo. David Samson / The Forum
A test sample is handed off during a COVID-19 testing event on June 11 at the Fargodome. David Samson / The Forum
A digital billboard on Interstate 94 encourages North Dakotans to wear a mask to fight the COVID-19 pandemic. David Samson / The Forum
Minnesota State Moorhead had to cancel two home men's basketball games against St. Cloud State due to the COVID-19 protocols. David Samson / The Forum
Bethany on 42nd employees undergo drive-thru testing for COVID-19 before the morning shift at the senior living center on April 22, 2020, in south Fargo. David Samson / The Forum
Dozens of vehicles line up for the drive-up testing for COVID-19 on Thursday, June 11, at the Fargodome. The testing by the North Dakota Department of Health and the North Dakota National Guard will continue on Friday. David Samson / The Forum
West Fargo Sheyenne varsity players watch their junior varsity teammates play Bismarck Century during the semifinals of the North Dakota state boys soccer tournament at Fargo South on Friday, Oct. 9, 2020. The Mustangs had to field their junior varsity team after 23 players from Sheyenne’s varsity squad were forced to quarantine due to COVID-19 exposure. David Samson / The Pioneer
Participants gather for the Juneteenth March for Justice at Island Park on Friday, June 19, 2020. David Samson / The Forum
Signage is displayed by participants during Juneteenth March for Justice at Island Park in downtown Fargo on Friday, June 19, 2020. David Samson / The Forum
Patrons return to the West Acres Mall on Friday, May 8. David Samson / The Forum
Sales manager Lucas Jens labels a can at Junkyard Brewing Company in Moorhead. David Samson / The Forum
Decontee Smith drives to the basket at Central Cass practice on Friday, Jan. 15. David Samson / The Forum
Justin Maesse grills up an order at Stone Town Grill in West Fargo. David Samson / The Pioneer
Justin Nudell works on a piece for client Marcos Quinto at the Zoltar Tattoo shop in south Moorhead. David Samson / The Forum
North Dakota State quarterback Trey Lance waits for the next drill during the opening day of practice on Friday, Aug. 7, 2020. David Samson / The Forum
Dragon Drumline members practice at Minnesota State University Moorhead. David Samson / The Forum
Chuck Roos and Dane Petersen remove paint from the Exchange Building in downtown Fargo on Sunday, May 31. David Samson / The Forum
Protesters carry signage as they march through the North Dakota State University campus on Friday, Dec. 4, 2020, in response to racist posts by students on social media. David Samson / The Forum
Maya Rodney from West Fargo attends the Juneteenth March for Justice at Island Park on Friday, June 19, 2020. David Samson / The Forum
A large panel reading "I can't breathe" in memory of George Floyd and Eric Garner is displayed on the legal graffiti wall in downtown Fargo on Thursday, June 11. David Samson / The Forum
North Dakota Sate University students grab posters in front of the Memorial Union before the AAPI anti-hate protest on campus on Friday, March 26, 2021. David Samson / The Forum
The Photoville FENCE project displayed at the Scheels Soccer Complex in West Fargo features works of seven area photographers with 90 other international artists. David Samson / The Pioneer
Sneeze guards are set in place between stations at Men's Hair Co. located at 855 13th Ave. E. in West Fargo. David Samson / The Forum
Samantha Abrahamson holds her cat, Leo, at the Animal Health Clinic in south Fargo. David Samson / The Forum
Erika Kyllo, a licensed practical nurse at Southpointe Clinic who is one of the nurses who have been helping out in the hospital. David Samson / The Forum
North Dakota State head coach Dave Richman shouts instruction during play against South Dakota State at the Scheels Center on Saturday, Feb. 20. David Samson / The Forum
Fargo Shanley soccer team members run through conditioning drills at practice on Monday, August 3, 2020., as the prepare for a season affected by the coronavirus pandemic. David Samson / The Forum
Todd Veen fills gas for a customer at Ted's Tesoro in north Fargo on Tuesday, April 7. Ted's remains the only station in Fargo still filling cars for drivers. David Samson / The Forum
Protesters march through the North Dakota State University campus on Friday, Dec. 4, in response to the administration’s handling of recent reports of racist posts by students on social media. David Samson / The Forum
Essentia Health nurse Tiffany Anderson helps co-worker Nate Busko suit up with protective gear to guard against getting infected by the highly contagious coronavirus. David Samson / The Forum
Garret and Tesia Miller from West Fargo load cars on Tuesday, May 26, during the Ruby's Pantry food distribution event at Bethel Evangelical Free Church in south Fargo. David Samson / The Forum
Clara Barton fifth-grader Benet Myer adds his dressing cups on salad trays while getting ready for the lunch rush with kitchen manager Kassy Janousek on Wednesday, Dec. 2. David Samson / The Forum
Fargo Davies High School junior Andy Tao writes a message in front of the Memorial Union before the AAPI anti-hate protest on the North Dakota State University campus on Friday, March 26, 2021. David Samson / The Forum
People come out to skate in the snow at Broadway Square on Tuesday, Feb. 23 located at 201 Broadway N, Fargo. Alyssa Goelzer / The Forum
This shows what the Broadway Square Plaza will look like in the summer months with the plush artificial turf. For the winter, an ice skating rink has been placed over the turf at the new downtown attraction. This photo was taken earlier in November. David Samson / The Forum
North Dakota State University sophomore Malery Selberg (left) makes a sidewalk chalk selection from junior Megan Schmidt in front of the Memorial Union before the AAPI anti-hate protest on campus on Friday, March 26, 2021. David Samson / The Forum
At an EXIM Trade Finance town hall Wednesday, Oct. 14, in Fargo, EXIM Bank President Kimberly Reed said EXIM has supported $40 million in exports from 19 North Dakota exporters in 14 small businesses. David Samson / The Forum
Jada, Jessie, Bill and Mya McClaflin of West Fargo share a laugh on Friday, March 20, as they get outside and clang pots as part of the NBC Tonight Show host Jimmy Fallon's Cowbell Challenge to make some noise and spread positive vibes during the coronavirus outbreak. David Samson / The Forum
United Way volunteers Jon Hanson and Tiffany Scheel sort through backpacks for curbside distribution at Aurora Elementary School in West Fargo on Thursday, Aug. 13, 2020. The event was the third of nine school supply drives for families in need in our metro area. David Samson / The Forum
Members of the West Fargo Packers girls soccer team get together for a parking lot gathering on March 30, 2020, while their season is suspended. The team supported each other from the backs of their cars during the coronavirus pandemic. Their 2020 spring season was ultimately canceled. David Samson / The Pioneer
Stylist Lakyn Adkins gives Lily Mayer, 8, from Casselton, N.D., a free haircut as her mother, Shelia, and brother, Myles, watch during the Salvation Army’s Cuts for Kids program on Monday, Aug. 17, at Josef's School of Hair, Skin & Body in south Fargo. David Samson / The Forum
Heart-n-Soul Community Cafe volunteers, who call themselves the Lunch Bunch, prepare meals at Square One Kitchens in north Fargo for locals in need of a weekend meal on Friday, Dec. 11. The cafe is taking part in the Fargo Moorhead Area Foundation Caring Catalog, an online fundraising campaign, to support the weekend lunch effort. David Samson / The Forum
Dozens of Fargo residents have put up paper hearts on their windows and doors to spread positivity and follow the trend going around on Facebook called #AWorldOfHearts. Seen on Wednesday, March 25 in Fargo. Alyssa Goelzer / The Forum
Dozens of Fargo residents have put up paper hearts on their windows and doors to spread positivity and follow the trend going around on Facebook called #AWorldOfHearts. Seen on Wednesday, March 25 in Fargo. Alyssa Goelzer / The Forum
Signage at Youngblood Coffee in downtown Fargo explains their mask policy to encourage politeness not politics in the fight against COVID-19. David Samson / The Forum
Anna Paige is a photojournalist, writer, poet and artist with a penchant for storytelling. She’s the Photo Editor at the Forum and moved to Fargo in 2024 after spending two decades in Montana where she worked as a journalist for several statewide outlets.
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