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July 2021 SD Missouri River Tourism Report

July 2021 SD Missouri River Tourism Report

Your Own Backyard!
It happens every year! A tourist asks the person at the front counter of a local business “What would you suggest we see – we’re here for a couple days.” The answer?  “There isn’t much to do or see here.” What?????
Let me give you some ideas!

State Capitol & Grounds – The Capitol has been restored to its 1910 beauty. It is a scaled down version of the Montana Capitol. There is a self-guided tour available. Capitol Lake and the grounds feature a fountain, man-made lake, Fighting Stallions sculpture and WWII memorial, which is a tribute to the 65,000 individuals from South Dakota that were involved in the war.

South Dakota Cultural Heritage Center – The museum houses interpretive displays of the state’s history. There is also an archive for genealogists and historians.

Historic Pierre Street – The historical business district has many unique shopping opportunities in old and well-preserved buildings.

South Dakota National Guard Museum – Collections include memorabilia and artifacts of the SD National Guard from 1862 up through the present and the SD Air National Guard from the late 1940s to the present.

La Framboise Island – The Island was named for Joseph La Framboise who built a fur trading post near here in 1817. Several hiking trails are located on the Island, and you will find lots of wildlife.

SD Discovery Center – The building, completed in 1933, formerly housed the Pierre Electrical Power Plant and now it has become a fun and interesting family attraction, consisting of hands-on scientific and technological exhibits.

Oahe Dam – The word Oahe means “something to stand upon, a firm foundation.” The Dam was dedicated in 1962 by President John F. Kennedy and is one of the largest rolled-earth dams in the world. It is 245 feet high, 9,300 feet long and the width at the base is 3,500 feet. Lake Oahe, created by the dam, stretches 231 miles north to Bismarck, ND, with 2,250 miles of shoreline. Tours are conducted seven days a week from Memorial Day to Labor Day.

Oahe Visitor Center & Oahe Chapel – The Visitor Center is open year-round – five days a week. You can see numerous displays on the Oahe Dam, the Lewis & Clark Corps of Discovery and the Native Culture. The Oahe Chapel was moved to its present location when the Peoria Bottom was flooded. It had been used as a church and schoolhouse. The services were held in the Lakota language and were not changed to English until 1931. Services will not be held this summer on Sunday morning as they were in the past because of renovations to the chapel.

Fischer’s Lilly Park – Located in Fort Pierre at the mouth of the Bad River – that flows into the Missouri River. In 1804 Lewis & Clark encountered the Teton Sioux in this area and there was a confrontation that nearly ended the expedition. But, another of the chiefs intervened and the expedition was allowed to go on.

Casey Tibbs Rodeo Center – A historical museum devoted to the sport of rodeo with memorabilia from many rodeo superstars, including Casey Tibbs. Located in Fort Pierre.

Verendrye Monument National Historic Landmark – The monument, located in Fort Pierre, is in honor of one of the most significant artifacts in US history. In 1743 the Verendrye brothers planted a lead plate on the hill claiming the land for the King of France. The actual Verendrye Plate is at the SD Cultural Heritage Center in Pierre.

These are only a few of the attractions in Your Own Backyard! I would suggest you post this at the cash registers in your business for your front-line people to see. If we keep those visitors a few more hours or overnight, it means more revenue for the communities of Pierre and Fort Pierre.

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