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Archaeological Dig Continues Near Abbie Gardner Cabin

July 07, 2022 Steve Schwaller

(Arnolds Park)– Friends of the Abbie Gardner Cabin Historic Site gave an update Thursday on their plans to restore the historic site just west of the Arnolds Park Amusement Park. Anita Bomgaars is among those leading the effort, which is under the umbrella of the Spirit of Okoboji organization. As we’ve reported previously, the goal of the group is to restore the cabin and interpretive center, which have been deteriorating in recent years. A study has been recently completed that will be used as part of a master plan to be developed for the site. A key part of the study has included an archaeological dig near the cabin, being led by State Archaeologist Dr. John Doershuk of the University of Iowa. He tells KUOO news they’ve uncovered some artifacts in a trench near the cabin that’s believed to have been a dump site…

“We have found materials that primarily relate to the 1891 to 1921 period when Abbie had returned, built her own cottage near the original cabin, and turned the cabin into probably what was one of Iowa’s first heritage tourism locations.”

The dig has been going on the past three weeks. Dr. Doershuk says they’ll be wrapping it up next week…

“We have one more full week to do next week out of our four week session and we’re still hopeful we may find earlier materials, native American materials could be here. It’s a prime spot for that. Inkpaduta reportedly had camped in the area in previous years, so it’s entirely possible that we could stumble across some of that. There’s also potential for material from the 1857 event, although that’s such a small window in time there wasn’t a lot of material associated with that, but it’s possible.”

We also asked Dr. Doershuk if there’s anything they would find that could potentially shut down the historic site…

“Well human remains are the one kind of archaeological material that’s specifically protected by state law. Otherwise if permissions are granted anything else can be excavated, literally, so human remains would complicate it but not shut it down.”

Eight archaeology students from the University of Iowa, in addition to Dr. Doershuk, are doing the digging. A very old glass medicinal bottle; a very old metal coffee pot, and an 1899 dime are among the items they’ve turned up so far.

The Friends of the Abbie Gardner Cabin Historic Site hopes to leverage funding from several sources, including the state of Iowa, their efforts to restore the historic site.

Iowa State Archaeologist Dr. John Doershuk of the University of Iowa addresses a gathering Thursday of the Friends of The Abbie Gardner Cabin Historic Site

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