The Louis Nigg Barn near Sisseton in Roberts County was added to the National Register of Historic Places in March.
The National Register is the official federal list of properties identified as important in American history, architecture, archaeology, engineering, and culture. The State Historic Preservation Office of the State Historical Society works in conjunction with the National Park Service, which oversees the National Register program, to list the properties.
“South Dakota has a very rich history and culture ranging from prehistoric Indian villages and homesteader cabins to unique businesses and richly detailed historic neighborhoods – which are all wonderful testaments to our state,” said Ted M. Spencer, State Historic Preservation Officer and director of the State Historic Preservation Office.
Buildings, sites, structures, and objects at least 50 years old possessing historical significance may qualify for the National Register, per the National Park Service guidelines. Properties must also maintain their historic location, design, materials, and association. Listing on the National Register does not place any limitations on private property owners by the federal government.
The Louis Nigg Barn was built in 1943 in Easter Township, Roberts County. It was listed for its significance in architecture. The barn represents the excellent integrity of the architectural and engineering characteristics of the Gothic Arch roof barn. The addition of the round roof barn on the north end of the barn reflects changes in agricultural production that required additional space.
In 1918, Louis married Gladys Johnson, and together they had eight children. The youngest, William Nigg, recalls that a first barn was constructed in 1941 and later burned down. A second barn was built in 1942 and blew over, and the current barn was constructed in 1943 from the second barn’s recycled materials.
Barns with Gothic Arch roofs began appearing in the Midwest around 1905 and were promoted by newspapers and agricultural publications. Earlier arches were made up of segmental rafters, replaced by 1916 by bent rafters, and by the 1920s by laminated truss systems. All arch shapes relied on a self-supporting rafter system. More than any other barn design, the Gothic Arch roof emphasizes the vertical direction of the structure. This design was praised for its beauty and ability to withstand high winds, but the complexity of the arched roof often resulted in the structural failure of bolts, nails, and glued joints. As with many other roof types, Gothic Arch roofs were often clad in machine-cut wood shingles.
Other recent listings to the National Register of Historic Places from South Dakota include the Margaret Burger Apartment House in Sioux Falls in January and the Gregory County Courthouse in Burke in February.
For more information on the National Register 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 and click on National Register of Historic Places in the right column.
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 since 2013, 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.
