History 605 explores the history of South Dakota, the northern Great Plains, and the Midwest. South Dakota’s State Historian Ben Jones will visit with guests about their books, museum exhibits and artifacts, and historic sites in the state and region. Along the way, you’ll learn how to think, not what to think, about history and the people of the past.
The host is Dr. Ben Jones, State Historian and Director of the South Dakota State Historical Society. Ben grew up in Sioux Falls and De Smet, served in various locations around the world while in the USAF. He returned to South Dakota to become Dean of Arts and Sciences at Dakota State University, then served as South Dakota’s 15th Secretary of Education. Along the way, he earned his PhD in history and enjoys sharing history’s insights with all of you.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
