Archaeologists recovered human remains from land in Bismarck that served as the city’s first community cemetery in the 1870s.
BISMARCK, N.D. — Archaeologists have recovered seven coffins containing human remains and another wooden box from the grounds of the North Dakota governor’s residence after construction crews uncovered remains during a security project earlier this year.
The discovery has renewed attention on the history of the property, which occupies part of Bismarck’s first community cemetery. The burial ground was used from 1873 to 1877, and officials had long believed most graves were moved elsewhere in the 1880s. Earlier construction projects, however, also uncovered burials that had been left behind.
The latest investigation began May 19, when contractors working near the southwest corner of the governor’s residence property found human remains, coffin hardware and fragments during excavation. The North Dakota Office of Management and Budget paused work in the immediate area, and archaeologists with the State Historical Society of North Dakota were brought in to examine the site.
Investigators used ground-penetrating radar to search for additional graves. More than 80 anomalies, or areas of interest, were examined before archaeological fieldwork concluded Sept. 14, according to Brandon Solberg, facilities management director for the Office of Management and Budget. Archaeologists ultimately recovered seven coffins containing human remains along with another wooden box.
Preliminary analysis indicated the remains included two women, two men, two teenage boys and one toddler, the Office of Management and Budget told People. The identities of those buried have not been released, and officials have not said whether researchers expect to identify any of them by name.
Archaeologists are now reviewing and cataloging the remains and other objects recovered during the work. That process is expected to continue into early 2027. The state has contracted with a local funeral home, while Crisis Care Chaplaincy has volunteered to assist with the relocation process. Officials expect the remains to be reburied at a local cemetery in spring 2027.
The findings fit a pattern that stretches back more than a century. Most graves from the former Bismarck cemetery were believed to have been transferred to St. Mary’s Cemetery and Fairview Cemetery during the 1880s. But construction near the same area later revealed that some burials remained. KFYR reported that 13 burials were found during work in 1903 and five more were encountered in 1959.
The current discovery came as the state was carrying out security and access improvements at the governor’s residence. Work continued in areas not affected by the burial sites while archaeologists examined the portion of the property where remains had been found.
Gov. Kelly Armstrong’s office previously said the governor wanted the remains handled with appropriate care and respect. For now, the recovered remains and associated materials are being cataloged as researchers continue studying the people buried on the property more than a century ago.
Author note: Last updated October 8, 2026.