The South Dakota State Historical Society will be celebrating Archaeology & Historic Preservation Month in May. This year’s theme is “See! Save! Celebrate!”

“This annual May celebration serves as a showcase for local communities to honor their past and help build their future.” said Jay D. Vogt, director of the State Historical Society. “It brings historic preservation to the forefront of our daily lives by emphasizing the vital importance of protecting our nation’s history and pre-history and heightens public awareness of the destruction to archaeological sites which are rapidly disappearing due to looters, vandals, and forces of nature.”

The State Historical Society’s Historic Preservation Office is encouraging local communities to share the events they have scheduled to celebrate their history and historic places. These activities will be posted on the society’s online calendar of events.

The calendar can be found by clicking on the word “Calendar” located in the top bar at www.history.sd.gov. Featured are educational programs in the areas of archaeology, preservation and history from across the state and beyond throughout the year. A form is available at the top of this page for communities to submit their happenings.

For more information on this annual celebration or other historic preservation programs, 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.

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, 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 www.history.sd.gov for more information. The society also has an archaeology office in Rapid City; call (605) 394-1936 for more information.