Archaeologists Removed Remains from Bismarck Governor Home

Construction on the North Dakota governor's residence property uncovered seven coffins from a 19th-century cemetery.

Updated on Oct. 5, 2026 in Construction

Bold flat-color editorial illustration of a lone iron fence post, evoking the somber historical context of the North Dakota cemetery site. — Archaeologists in Bismarck, North Dakota, removed seven sets of human remains discovered during construction at the governor's residence this September. AI Illustration. Upload story photo >

Archaeologists removed seven coffins and one wooden box from the grounds of the North Dakota governor's residence in September 2026. The discovery occurred after construction crews hit the remains while installing a new fence in May.

Why it matters

The site originally served as the first cemetery for Bismarck from 1873 to 1877, though previous discoveries of human remains were also documented on the Capitol grounds in 1903 and 1959.

Archaeological work at the site reached an estimated cost of $155,000, while the state previously approved $2.35 million for security upgrades to the property.

The players

Office of Management and Budget

This government agency oversees state-level fiscal operations and coordinated the handling of the remains.

The details

Archaeologists explored more than 80 areas of interest to ensure all remains were recovered from the site. The Office of Management and Budget has contracted a local funeral home to manage the handling and future reinterment of the remains.

The site served as a cemetery from 1873 to 1877.
Construction crews discovered human remains in May 2026.
Archaeologists conducted field explorations during September 2026.
The archaeological work reached an estimated cost of $155,000 by September 1, 2026.
Reinterment of the remains is expected in the spring of 2027.

Market Landscape

This excavation follows a pattern set by the 1959 discovery of human remains on the Capitol grounds. The project highlights the ongoing challenge of managing historical land use within the modern infrastructure footprint of Bismarck.

The archaeological discovery has not impacted current residential access or public services. Residents should note that construction activities at the governor's residence will continue as planned following the completion of the field study.

The takeaway

The discovery underscores the importance of historical site monitoring during modern utility and infrastructure projects. Officials expect a respectful conclusion to the process with the planned reinterment of the remains in the spring.