ROSS – The Assyrian Muslim Cemetery near Ross will be reviewed for placement on the National Register of Historic Places.

On Friday, the North Dakota State Historic Preservation Review Board will meet at 10 a.m. in Lecture Room A in the North Dakota Heritage Center in Bismarck, for the discussion on the cemetery. The meeting is open to the public.

The board reviews nominations to the National Register of Historic Places prior to their submission to the Keeper of the NRHP for official consideration.

According to State Historical Preservation Office information, Assyrian Muslim Cemetery near Ross is the site of the first mosque in the nation and was the only Muslim cemetery in North Dakota for 90 years. The Muslim settlers in this area, primarily from what is now southeast Lebanon, began arriving in 1902 and came with the same dreams for living better lives that most homesteaders shared. Upon arrival, they experienced the same hardships, conditions, and similar successes as other settlers. The cemetery is significant as it is the only place remaining in the area that distinctly testifies to the culture of this particular group of people.

The National Register of Historic Places is the nation’s list of properties considered worthy of preservation.