Historic preservation projects in Deadwood, Lead, Sioux Falls and Watertown have received matching grants from the South Dakota State Historical Society.

“This historic preservation grants program is designed to encourage restoration or rehabilitation of historic properties and is one more way we can promote and protect our history and culture,” said Jay D. Vogt, director of the State Historical Society. “In 2018 we awarded $117,000 among 10 projects which had matching funds of $580,106. The resulting total public-private investment is $697,106.”

The grants are awarded through the State Historical Society’s Deadwood Fund grant program. Funding for the program is from Deadwood gaming revenue earmarked by state law for historic preservation projects throughout the state. The program is administered by the society’s State Historic Preservation Office at the Cultural Heritage Center in Pierre.

The following projects were the most recent to receive grants to supplement their work:

• Deadwood (Lawrence County): Pearson Cabin, built around 1876; received $15,000 to complete cabin restoration
   
• Lead (Lawrence County): Homestake Opera House, built in 1914; received $12,500 to complete final design documents for the restoration of the theater
   
• Sioux Falls (Minnehaha County): Grand Lodge and Library of the Ancient Free and Accepted Masons, built in 1924; received $12,500 for comprehensive façade masonry repairs
   
• Watertown (Codington County): Olive Place, built in 1887; received $10,000 for roof restoration to replace asphalt shingles with wood shingles

These new recipients represent a total award amount of $50,000 and matching funds of $347,400. The total anticipated public-private investment is $397,400. These figures are reflected in the 2018 statistics above.

Deadwood Fund grants are awarded twice a year with grant application deadlines of Feb. 1 and Oct. 1. They are reviewed at the spring and winter meetings of the State Historical Society’s board of trustees. For more information on the Deadwood Fund grant program, contact the State Historic Preservation Office at the Cultural Heritage Center, 900 Governors Drive, Pierre, SD 57501-2217; telephone 605-773-3458; or website history.sd.gov/preservation/fundingopportunities.aspx.

About the South Dakota State Historical Society
The South Dakota State Historical Society is a division of the Department of Education. The State Historical Society, an Affiliate of the Smithsonian Institution, 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 history.sd.gov for more information. The society also has an archaeology office in Rapid City; call 605-394-1936 for more information.