Molstad Village
Encyclopedia
Molstad Village is an archaeological site
in Dewey County, South Dakota
, near Mobridge, South Dakota
. It was declared a National Historic Landmark
in 1964.
At the time of the designation in 1964, it was stated:
Molstad Village was named after Irene and Oscar Molstad on whose ranch the village resided. The land belonged to Irene who was a member of the Cheyenne River Sioux Nation. She and her husband, Oscar, operated at cattle ranch. In 1963 and 1964 they graciously allowed crews from the Smithsonian Institution to erect base camps on their property for the purpose of investigating the prehistoric sites, many of which were being damaged and destroyed by the Oahe Reservoir waters. One of those sites, south of Molstad Village near the mouth of the Moreau River, was named Calamity Village, and was partially excavated by Smithsonian archaeologist Oscar L. Mallory, who operated from the Molstad Ranch base camp.
Archaeological site
An archaeological site is a place in which evidence of past activity is preserved , and which has been, or may be, investigated using the discipline of archaeology and represents a part of the archaeological record.Beyond this, the definition and geographical extent of a 'site' can vary widely,...
in Dewey County, South Dakota
Dewey County, South Dakota
As of the census of 2000, there were 5,972 people, 1,863 households, and 1,386 families residing in the county. The population density was 3 people per square mile . There were 2,133 housing units at an average density of 1 per square mile...
, near Mobridge, South Dakota
Mobridge, South Dakota
Mobridge is a city in Walworth County, South Dakota, United States. The population was 3,465 at the 2010 census.-Geography:Mobridge is located at ....
. It was declared a National Historic Landmark
National Historic Landmark
A National Historic Landmark is a building, site, structure, object, or district, that is officially recognized by the United States government for its historical significance...
in 1964.
At the time of the designation in 1964, it was stated:
Molstad Village was named after Irene and Oscar Molstad on whose ranch the village resided. The land belonged to Irene who was a member of the Cheyenne River Sioux Nation. She and her husband, Oscar, operated at cattle ranch. In 1963 and 1964 they graciously allowed crews from the Smithsonian Institution to erect base camps on their property for the purpose of investigating the prehistoric sites, many of which were being damaged and destroyed by the Oahe Reservoir waters. One of those sites, south of Molstad Village near the mouth of the Moreau River, was named Calamity Village, and was partially excavated by Smithsonian archaeologist Oscar L. Mallory, who operated from the Molstad Ranch base camp.