Seven Coffins Containing Human Remains Discovered Near North Dakota Governor's Residence

Seven ancient coffins containing human remains, including that of a toddler, were discovered near the North Dakota governor’s residence by archaeologists, state officials confirmed. The caskets and an empty wooden box were found while contractors were performing security upgrades at the Bismarck property, leading to a months-long excavation process.

The remains appear to be those of two women, two men, two teenage boys, and one toddler. The discovery occurred in the area of what was Bismarck’s first cemetery, operating from 1873 to 1877. Historical records indicate that many burials from this cemetery were reinterred to nearby St. Mary’s Cemetery and Fairview Cemetery in the 1880s.

"They had thought in the 1880s that they had exhumed everybody," said Kara Haff, spokesperson for the State Historical Society of North Dakota. "There’s an article that says ‘we’ve moved everybody but two, and we expect that work to be done within the next week.'"

Brandon Solberg, OMB’s facilities management director, stated that archaeologists completed their fieldwork on September 14 and identified over 80 areas of interest. The research team has begun cataloging their findings and is expected to complete their analysis early next year.

Officials are working with a local funeral home to handle the remains before they are reinterred at another cemetery in the spring. The discovery occurred after state lawmakers approved $2.35 million in security upgrades for the governor’s residence, which is home to Gov. Kelly Armstrong. The archaeological work incurred an additional estimated cost of $155,000.