Czech South Dakotans

[1] The first Czech immigrants started arriving in Dakota Territory in 1868, and settled west of Yankton.

These poor people from Bohemia came to America with hope of improving their living conditions and attaining a better future.

Church services first started taking place in 1871 at the log home of Vaclav Janda, one mile south of Tabor.

The church was completed in 1874, and was constructed of chalk rock cut near the Missouri River south of Tabor.

Although the Czech population in the state was small, their high concentration in certain regions had a profound impact on the cultural history of South Dakota.

ZCBJ Hall , an historic meeting hall for the Czech community in Tyndall, South Dakota .
St. Wenceslaus Catholic Church and Parish House , a Catholic parish in Tabor founded by Bohemian immigrants.