The area of the residence property where the remains were discovered was once the Bismarck cemetery, in use from roughly 1873 to 1877.
A simple landscaping project at the governor’s residence in North Dakota has uncovered a shocking discovery: several sets of human remains.
Remains and fragments of a coffin were first uncovered by construction workers on May 19, which prompted further investigation of the area. Archaeologists from the State Historical Society of North Dakota surveyed the area using ground-penetrating radar and flagged over 80 anomalies or areas of interest.
Seven coffins containing human remains and an empty, unknown wooden box have been uncovered. Preliminary analysis of the remains indicate that they include two women, two men, two teenage boys, and one toddler, the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) told People.
Archaeologists are now working to review and catalog the remains and objects found during their work. Their analysis is expected to finish in 2027.
The area of the governor’s residence property where the remains were discovered was once the Bismarck cemetery, in use from roughly 1873 to 1877, State Historical Society of North Dakota spokesperson Kara Haff told the Bismarck Tribune.
In the 1880s, the Tribune reported that efforts were being made to move the graves from the Bismarck cemetery to either Fairview or St. Mary’s cemeteries.
“They had thought in the 1880s that they had exhumed everybody," Haff said. "There's an article that says 'we've moved everybody but two, and we expect that work to be done within the next week.' Well, this has kind of proven otherwise."
While construction on the property has not been completely halted, work on the portion where the remains were found has been paused while additional surveys are conducted, OMB spokesperson Jen Raab told the Tribune. The office still needs to determine if more remains are present, whether they should be moved, how much it would cost to move them, and whether ceremonies need to be conducted beforehand.
Gov. Kelly Armstrong “wants to ensure the remains are treated with appropriate care and respect,” according to the Tribune.
The area of the governor’s residence property where the remains were discovered was once the Bismarck cemetery, in use from roughly 1873 to 1877. (Friends of the North Dakota Governor’s Residence) Construction on the grounds of the governor’s residence began in March. The $2.35 million project will enhance access and security at the residence, according to OMB. It was approved by the Legislature during the 2025 legislative session.
The cost of the project includes new, upgraded fencing farther away from the home and a new front driveway, along with surveying services, security measures, and landscaping.
The construction of the current governor’s residence began in September 2016, with the first family moving into the home in March 2018. It sits on the southwest corner of the capital grounds. The 2015 North Dakota Legislative Assembly authorized $4 million to be used for the construction of the new home, alongside up to $1 million in private contributions.
The 13,700-square-foot residence includes a 1,500-square-foot formal gathering space and a three-stall garage, according to a 2018 invitation for the public to tour the residence from the Office of the Governor.
The original governor’s mansion was built as a private home in 1884 before it was sold to the state for $5,000 in 1893. From 1893 to 1960, it was home to 20 North Dakota governors. In 1975, the ownership of the home was transferred to the State Historical Society of North Dakota, which renovated it to look as it did at the turn of the century. It is now open to the public as a museum.
The former governor’s residence was built on the capital grounds in between 1959 and 1960. The construction of the home cost $200,000. The 1960s-era residence was demolished in 2018 with the current residence built nearby.