History 605

Historian Paul Finkelman joins the History 605 Podcast to discuss his essay on the legal proceedings that led up to the nation's largest mass execution in December of 1862.

On this episode of History 605, Craig Fehrman discusses his new book, using the biographies of Jefferson, Lewis, Clark, Sacagawea, and others to illuminate the expedition through multiple perspectives. By weaving together these viewpoints, he offers a vivid account that clarifies key decisions, highlights the American Indian perspective, and deepens understanding of the expedition’s lasting impact.

Jim Williams, Executive Director of Deadwood History, joins History 605 to talk about the Days of ’76 Museum and the organization’s work to commemorate both Deadwood’s 150th anniversary and the nation’s upcoming 250th.

On a frigid November day in 1952, Wilmot, SD native Royce Williams made split‑second decisions in the skies off North Korea that were worthy of the Medal of Honor but were buried in secrecy due to intense international tensions. After the mission was declassified and veterans rallied with Congressional support, he finally received the recognition he deserved in February 2026.

The USS South Dakota Battleship Memorial has honored the bravery and service of the ship’s WWII crew since the 1960s, preserving the legacy of sailors who endured some of the war’s most intense combat. When the Navy planned to scrap the vessel after the war, a dedicated Sioux Falls group stepped in to ensure its story lived.

Starting with Yankton, then moving to Bismarck, then considering half a dozen other locations during rapidly changing times, the centrally located small ranching river town of Pierre becomes South Dakota's permanent capital. Braeden Kluver joins Ben Jones in this episode of History 605 to go over the story of how all that occurred.

In this episode, Ben Jones speaks to Dedra Birzer who has recently written an essay in "South Dakota History," about Rose Wilder Lane's writing, her career, and her work to imbue the pioneer spirit into American political life.

David C. Posthumus and Ben Jones discuss Posthumus' new book and the Lakota’s own 19th- and early-20th-century voices that tell the story of a vibrant culture undergoing momentous change.

Since this episode first aired, Corey Christenson’s article on Alfred Dahlin’s World War I experiences earned the 2025 Schell Prize for Best Article in South Dakota History. The story began when the Dahlin family donated Alfred’s uniform and gear, sparking Corey’s quest to uncover his remarkable journey. Serving in a unit drawn from the American West, Dahlin faced the brutal realities of war—but his wounds and recovery reveal a deeply personal and insightful perspective on a global conflict.

Ben Jones speaks with author Bradley Thompson and discusses what John Adams and others thought was the more important revolution that occurred in the minds of the American people.

In this episode from the archives, Ben Jones talks with Photographer Paul Horsted to discuss his books and work that detail George Custer's 1874 Black Hills expedition.

David Grabitske and Dan Moeckly join Ben Jones on this edition of History 605 to discuss how they've worked to design South Dakota's stories for the upcoming new museum exhibits.

On this episode of History 605, Ben Jones talks about the tale of South Dakota's Embezzling Treasurer.

On this episode of History 605, Ben Jones delves into South Dakota's first wartime experience, which occurred in the aftermath of the events in Cuba and the nation's declaration of war against Spain in 1898.

Cara Rogers Stevens joins Ben Jones on this edition of History 605 to discuss her recent book about Thomas Jefferson and his work to eliminate slavery.

Historian and author Ken Zontek joins Ben Jones on History 605 to discuss the ways in which American Indian communities started to recover the buffalo population.

In the run-up to marking the nation's 250th anniversary next year, Ben Jones talks to historian, author, and podcaster Albert Zambone about his biography of Daniel Morgan.

Peter Cozzens joins History 605 to discuss his new book on Deadwood and the fascinating people who participated in the gold rush of 1876 and beyond.

On this episode of History 605, Ben and Braeden walk through the history of the Homestake Mine in Lead, South Dakota.

Pamela Smith Hill joins Ben Jones on this edition of History 605 for a conversation on her new book about the value of the Little House books to people of all ages.

Jacob Friefeld, of the University of Illinois - Springfield, joins Ben Jones on this edition of History 605 to discuss the life and work of Oscar Micheaux.

On this edition of History 605, Ben Jones discusses an oral history interview with Rolly Samp that described how, as Congressman Ben Reifel's brand-new state director, he experienced the political bargains made when the party was deadlocked about who would be the nominee to face George McGovern that November.

Andrew Isenberg joins Ben Jones again to discuss his new book, "The Age of the Borderlands: Indians, Slaves and the Limits of Manifest Destiny."

On this episode of History 605, Ben Jones dives into the complicated events that brought the reservations into being and how that has impacted South Dakota's history.

Patty Limerick joins Ben Jones to share her story of how South Dakota influenced her start as a historian and how the art of conversation is important for all people, not just historians.

David Beito and Marcus Witcher join Ben Jones to talk about their recent book of Rose Wilder Lane's columns and her impact on 20th-century American politics.

In this episode of History 605, Ben Jones dives into the life of Gladys Pyle.

On this edition of History 605, Ben Jones speaks with Chrystal Mensch-Nelson, Director of the Mead Museum in Yankton, about their current exhibit of a rare Jefferson Peace Medal.

In this episode of History 605, Ben Jones dug into the South Dakota State Historical Society archives, scoured libraries and the internet for the history of the Crazy Horse Memorial.

On this episode of History 605, Ben Jones speaks to Levi Kessler about his "History Below the Pines" project in the Black Hills.

State Historian Ben Jones and his assistant Braeden Kluver tell the story of the creation, carving, funding, and politics of Mount Rushmore.

In this edition of History 605, Ben Jones speaks to author April White, who brings us back to the high society of the Sioux Falls Cataract Hotel and how it became the place where certain women from the East Coast could escape a bad marriage.

Archivist Matthew Reitzel joins Ben Jones to discuss his article in South Dakota History journal about Earl Neller, who hitchhiked across South Dakota with six children in 1933.

In this episode from the archives, Ben Jones speaks with historian David Wolff, about how the response to four of Deadwood’s fires proved to be a boon to the famous Black Hills gold-mining town.

In this episode from the archives, Ben Jones speaks with University of South Dakota Law Professor Tom Simmons to see what happened when angry investor Peter Wintermute and Acting Territorial Governor Edwin McCook have a shootout and brawl in the midst of a Yankton public meeting.

Bradley Thompson joins Ben Jones on this edition of History 605 to discuss the founders and the American Revolution.

South Dakota State Historical Society Museum Curator Daniel Moeckly joins Ben Jones to discuss the state museum's efforts with the new museum design.

Corey Christianson joins Ben Jones on this edition of History 605 to talk about Alfred Dahlin who she chronicled in the most recent edition of South Dakota History

In this episode of History 605, Ben Jones speaks with Tom Hurlburt, President of the SD State Historical Society Trustees and principal architect of Co-op Architecture.

In this edition of History 605, Ben Jones talks with the South Dakota Secretary of Education Joseph Graves.

In this episode of History 605, Ben Jones talks with Lori Kent of the Local Lou Podcast to talk about how she has fun telling the deeper stories behind her town’s ubiquitous historical markers.

On this edition of History 605, Ben Jones speaks with Timothy Winegard about his fascinating new book, rich with epic tales and equine stories of man's dependency on one of the world's most amazing animals - the horse.

In this episode of History 605, Ben Jones sits down with Norman Matteoni, author of a new book, "A Phantom Storm: Sitting Bull, America, and the Ghost Dance."

Richard Carlson joins Ben Jones on the latest episode of History 605 to give an update on a collection of early and mid-20th-century photographs showing the life and history in the Black Hills.

The state's History Museum received an invaluable set of artifacts from two families that belonged to Sinte Gleska, often referred to as Spotted Tail.

Ben Jones discusses Philip Burnham's book, "The Education of Clarence Three Stars: A Lakota American Life" on the latest episode of History 605.

In this edition of History 605, Ben Jones discusses Ella Deloria's remarkable path from South Dakota to Columbia University, her training under the nation's first anthropologists, and her tireless work interviewing Lakota and Dakota people in the early 20th century with Thierry Veyrié.

On this edition of History 605, guest Blake Watson joins Ben Jones to discuss the sticky issue of how the US government bought and took land from Indians.

Historian Allen Guelzo joins Ben Jones on History 605 to discuss his new book, "Our Ancient Faith: Lincoln, Democracy, and The American Experiment."

In this edition of History 605, Ben Jones speaks with Sean Vanatta, who describes how Citibank and South Dakota changed the credit card industry in the United States.