WELCOME TO HISTORIC PRESERVATION
The South Dakota State Historic Preservation Office (SHPO) works to advocate for the preservation of historic properties and archaeological sites across South Dakota through providing access to funding opportunities, education, consultation, research, and promotion of heritage tourism. SHPO also manages the National Register of Historic Places program in South Dakota and reviews federal, state, and local government activities to understand their affects on cultural and historic resources. Below you will find SHPO's most recent news and deadlines, as well as a more comprehensive list on what the office works on. For any questions, comments, or concerns, please click the contact page and reach out!
SHPO NEWS AND DEADLINES:
Archaeology Camp June 9th - 11th 2026
Summer is just around the corner, and the South Dakota State Historical Society is pleased to announce that our annual Archaeology Camp is returning this June! Archaeology Camp provides students with an active, outdoor experience located at an archaeological site near the Oahe Downstream Recreation Area north of Fort Pierre. Students should be prepared to hike and to work in the dirt alongside professional archaeologists. At Archaeology Camp, campers will be introduced to the field of archaeology where they will learn about the purpose of archaeological digs and the stories that artifacts can tell people about the past.
In addition to excavations at the site, other rewarding and fun activities the campers will participate in will include processing artifacts, practicing with atlatls (ancient weapons that preceded the bow and arrow), and touring historic sites around town.
Camp dates are June 9th -11th, from 8 a.m.-5 p.m. The program is structured for students to attend all three days. The registration fee per camper is $50.
Registration will open Friday, May 1, at 8 a.m. CT and will close when the camp is full or on Sunday, May 3, whichever comes first. Due to the popularity of the camp, registrations are first come first serve for the first 20 applicants who have not previously attended. Prior participants may apply, but their names will be added to a waitlist and only considered if there are less than 20 new campers. No walk-in campers will be accepted on camp days.
Registration information is available at our Archaeology Camp page.
WHAT DOES SHPO DO?
The South Dakota State Historic Preservation Office (SHPO) manages a wide range of Historic Preservation matters throughout the state of South Dakota. Some of the tasks our office performs include:
- - Surveying and maintaining inventories of historic properties throughout the state. Take a look at our CRGRID for surveyed architectural properties in the state.
- - Nominating eligible properties to the State and National Register of Historic Places.
- - Providing public information, education, training, and technical assistance relating to historic preservation. Our 'Documents and Forms' page has a wide variety of materials regarding the different type of properties in South Dakota.
- - Working with local governments across the state in creating local historic preservation programs and Certified Local Governments.
- - Administering grant and tax incentive funding programs to assist in the stabilization, rehabilitation, and restoration of historic properties. These programs include the Deadwood Fund Grant, the State Property Tax Moratorium, and the Federal Tax Incentive.
- - Administering a state historical marker program. A current list of historical markers can be found here.
- - Working with federal and state agencies and local governments in carrying out their historic preservation responsibilities, especially on projects that might affect historic properties, under Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act of 1966, as amended, and SDCL 1-19A-11.1.
- - Hosting an archaeology camp with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers that teaches students about the field of archaeology, why archaeological digs are done, and what we can learn from the artifacts found.
- - Administering a Student Essay Contest open to all 4th grade students in South Dakota. The topic for the essay contest is 'This Place Matters' where students write about a place in South Dakota that's at least 50 years old and explain to us why that place matters to them.