Preserve South Dakota Publishes "Places in Peril" List for 2004

< Back to Home Page

Every year, Preserve South Dakota takes nominations for threatened historic structures and sites throughout the state of South Dakota. From the nominations, some or all sites are placed on the list in an effort to raise awareness of these endangered properties.

Since 1996, the Places in Peril program has been successful in attracting attention to South Dakota’s most important and loved historic places that face an immediate threat of destruction. This threat can be in many forms such as urban sprawl, neglect by owners, apathy of community leaders, lack of financial support or simply the weather.

The purpose of the “list” is to alert citizens of South Dakota who can make a difference. With that difference, we hope to avert the loss of these irreplaceable historic sites and structures which serve as links to our unique and tangible heritage.

In 2005-2006, Preserve South Dakota named 4 sites to the Places in Peril List.  They are:

            The Butte/Lawrence Co. Fairgrounds at Nisland, SD.  They  are National Register listed based on their unique architectural features, esp. the octagonal Pavilion.  Age and deterioration are threatening them.

            The Igloo Church at the former Black Hills Army Depot near Edgemont, SD, served the Igloo community and depot until the 1960’s, when the depot was abandoned.

The Wall High School Building, Wall, SD, is a sandstone and brick structure in good condition and the last remaining original public building in Wall.  Re-use is needed. 

The 1884 Free-Methodist Church in Sioux Falls, SD is a frame church in need of extensive repairs after many years of neglect by numerous owners.

Inductees to the Places in Peril list are never removed from the list. The list continues to grow and the status of each site or structure is recorded and kept current with developments which have either saved the site or caused it to be lost.

Preserve South Dakota is a non-profit, grass roots statewide historic preservation organization based in Pierre. Its mission is to champion the preservation of historic places through education, advocacy and low-interest loan assistance.

For more information on Places in Peril, visit www.preservesd.org or call 605-583-4509. Nominations to the list may be made at any time during the year. The list is published in late November.

Back     Back to Top