The purpose of the society is to preserve the Czech heritage and the early history of the Czech settlers of the Dakota Territory through a variety of means.

A major project of the society in 1980 was the translation from Czech to English of Joseph A. Dvorak’s book on the history of the early Czechs in South Dakota. The book is still available for $20 plus $4 postage and handling by contacting the society.

The home of the society is a log school believed to be the oldest public building in South Dakota. The school was placed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1983.

Another major project was the development of the Vancura Memorial Park in Tabor. The Straka Log Home was placed on a permanent foundation in the park in 1982. A granite memorial in the middle of the park completed in 1985 serves as the town square. Volunteers restored and renovated a church that was also placed in the park that summer. Tabor’s first jail was placed in the park in 1986. An old business building donated by the City of Tabor has become a general store and post office for the society.

Annual events of the society include a Palm Sunday Program at 2 p.m., participation in the Czech Days Celebration in June, a pot-luck picnic in July, a Halloween Party in October, and a Christmas Party and pot-luck in December

Mildred Cimpl
Czech Heritage Preservation Society, Inc.
PO Box 128
Tabor, SD 57063