South Dakota Heritage Fund

PIERRE, S.D. – The music of Abraham Lincoln’s America, a territory history game show, and a visit with the South Dakota’s first governor, Arthur Mellette, will be part of the South Dakota State Historical Society’s annual history conference on May 20-21 at the Ramkota RiverCentre in Pierre.

The conference will focus on the 150th anniversary of Dakota Territory. The theme is “Being Dakota: Territorial Sesquicentennial 1861-2011.”

The keynote speaker is Brad Tennant, an associate professor of history at Presentation College in Aberdeen. His research interests include state and regional history, with articles published in South Dakota History, Heritage of the Great Plains, and South Dakota Magazine. Tennant is president of the board of trustees of the State Historical Society. His conference presentation is “Being Dakota: The 1861 Organic Act and Dakota Territory.”

The conference moderator is David Grettler, a professor of history at Northern State University in Aberdeen. Grettler is a historian and archaeologist specializing in early American history.

Presenters include Olivia Mahoney of the Chicago History Museum speaking on Abraham Lincoln; Rick Mills of the South Dakota Railroad Museum in Keystone discussing railroading in the territory; Forts of Dakota Territory by presenter Jeff Barnes; and songs of Abraham Lincoln’s America by folksinger Judy Cook.

Other speakers are Craig Howe on the Lakota experience during territorial times,
David Wolff speaking about Seth Bullock, Barbara Handy-Marcello on military wife and writer Linda Slaughter, and John Timm offering a first-person portrayal of Governor Mellette. A game show session, “Dakota Territory Throwdown,” will offer a lighthearted look at territorial history and get the audience involved in assisting and cheering for their team’s contestant.

Friday evening’s reception will be held at the Cultural Heritage Center and will feature music by Judy Cook. “South Dakota’s First Century of Flight” will be on exhibit in the center’s Hogen Gallery.

The Governor’s Awards for History will be announced at a luncheon on Saturday. These awards are presented in recognition of individuals, organizations, and teachers who have made outstanding contributions to preserving South Dakota history.

Up to 10 continuing education contact hours are available for teachers attending the conference.

The early registration deadline is April 29, but people can register up until the conference itself. You don’t have to be a member of the State Historical Society to attend. For more information, call (605) 773-6000 or visit www.history.sd.gov.

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The South Dakota State Historical Society is a division of the Department of Tourism. The Department of Tourism is comprised of Tourism, the South Dakota Arts Council, and the State Historical Society. The Department is led by Secretary James D. Hagen. The State Historical Society is headquartered at the South Dakota Cultural Heritage Center in Pierre. The center houses the society’s world-class museum, the archives, and the historic preservation, publishing and administrative/development offices. Call (605) 773-3458 or visit www.history.sd.gov for more information. The society also has an archaeology office in Rapid City; call (605) 394-1936 for more information.