Discovery of Historic Coffins in Bismarck
Archaeologists have uncovered seven coffins, along with human remains, near the governor’s residence in Bismarck, North Dakota. This area was previously used as a burial ground for community members during the 1800s.
The investigation, led by Facilities Management Director Brandon Solberg from the Office of Management and Budget, involved checking over 80 locations before concluding in early September, as reported by KFYR.
The preliminary examination revealed that the remains belonged to two women, two men, two teenage boys, and a toddler. This information was shared with People, highlighting the significance of the find.
KFYR noted that the discovery originated on May 19 when contractors working on the property near 4th Street and Boulevard Avenue stumbled upon graves, coffin hardware, and other fragments. This unexpected finding halted construction efforts and prompted a radar survey by the State Historical Society, leading to a dig that began on September 1.
The analysis of the remains and the artifacts is projected to be finished early next year. Following that, the remains will be carefully stored and are expected to be reinterred in a local cemetery.
This particular site served as the city’s first community cemetery from 1873 until 1877, and while many graves were thought to have been relocated, some were apparently left behind.
Kara Haff, a spokesperson for the State Historical Society of North Dakota, mentioned that it was previously believed in the 1880s that all remains had been exhumed. An article from that time stated they had moved everyone except for two individuals, suggesting that they expected that task to be completed soon. However, these recent discoveries challenge that assumption.
In a report from November 8, 2012, for Public Prairie Newsroom, writer Jim Davis discussed the cemetery’s historical context and the people buried there:
A Bismarck Tribune reporter, in 1883, visited the “Old Graveyard on the Hill” and was struck by the sight—he noted that these “weather-beaten slabs” were once far removed from the bustling city. He reflected on the lives of the pioneers and frontiersmen who had died fighting for the land now surrounding them.
The same reporter also expressed concern about the fate of the graves, warning that “in a few short years they are forgotten,” covered by weeds and wildflowers as the sounds of modern living replaced the silence of the past.
Indeed, KXNET reported in 2021 that forgotten cemeteries, including this one in Bismarck, are key to understanding the rich history of North Dakota.
Morton County Commissioner Andy Zachmeier commented on the importance of these early settlers, stating, “These are the people that came and settled. These people paid a heavy sacrifice to start a life here; they helped build that county and the state of North Dakota.”
