Juneteenth Presentation on Benjamin Hayes

The public is invited to the Stutsman County Courthouse State Historic Site in Jamestown for a Juneteenth presentation titled “The Dakota Life of ‘Colonel’ Benjamin Hayes” at 2 p.m., Friday, June 19, in the courtroom.

The free presentation will explore the life of Benjamin Hayes, a U.S. Army soldier who arrived in Jamestown in 1882 and would serve as a courthouse cook, custodian, and jailor. The program will highlight ongoing research into Hayes’ life and legacy as a Black person in Dakota Territory and explore the challenges of researching underrepresented voices from the past.

This event is part of the ND250 commemoration celebrating our country’s 250th birthday.

The Stutsman County Courthouse State Historic Site is home to a unique hands-on exhibit about civics and local government. It is North Dakota’s oldest surviving courthouse and is listed in the National Register of Historic Places.

For more information, contact Outreach Coordinator Stephan Zacharias, [email protected] or 701.328.1883. Located at 504 Third Ave. SE, Jamestown, the Stutsman County Courthouse State Historic Site is managed by the State Historical Society of North Dakota. The site is open daily 9 a.m.-5 p.m. through Sept. 7. Find more programs sponsored by the State Historical Society at history.nd.gov/events.