Fort Sisseton Secures Funding for Preservation in Latest Round of State Grants

Northeast Radio SD News – Fort Sisseton, SD - History in our backyard is getting a major boost this spring. The South Dakota State Historical Society has officially announced the winners of the Deadwood Fund Grant for the Spring 2026 cycle, and a Northeast South Dakota landmark is on the list.

Local Impact: Fort Sisseton State Park

In a win for regional preservation, Fort Sisseton State Park in Lake City has been awarded $15,000. These funds are specifically earmarked to assist with critical window preservation across three historic structures:

·         The officer’s quarters

·         The carpenter’s shop

·         The blacksmith shop

This investment ensures these structural pieces of South Dakota’s frontier history remain intact for future generations of visitors to the park.

Preserving South Dakota’s Heritage

The Deadwood Fund program is unique in its funding source, relying exclusively on a portion of gaming revenue from the City of Deadwood. By state law, these funds must be used to administer historic preservation projects throughout South Dakota.

“For the past 30 years, this program has served as a great way to encourage restoration or rehabilitation of historic properties across our state,” said Garry Guan, State Historic Preservation Officer.

Statewide Award Winners

While Fort Sisseton is a local highlight, seven other communities across the state also received matching grants for various restoration projects:

Community	Project	Award Amount
Canton	Canton Lutheran Church (Stained-glass repair)	$15,000
Custer	Camp Bob Marshall cabins (Roofing repair)	$15,000
Mitchell	123 North Main (Structural work)	$15,000
Madison	Smith House (Roof repair)	$10,000
Tabor	Saint Wenceslaus Church Rectory (Porch repair)	$10,000
Alcester	Hyden House (Roof repair)	$10,000
Zeona	Immanuel Lutheran Church (Steeple and roof repair)	$5,000

How to Apply

The Deadwood Fund Grant program awards grants annually and has two application deadlines: February 1 and October 1.

For more information on the program or to inquire about future cycles, residents can contact the State Historic Preservation Office or visit history.sd.gov.