• View
• Edit
• History
• Print

Pierre South Dakota

INTRODUCTION

This is the second smallest capital city in the United States. Montpelier in Vermont is smaller.

HISTORY

The first Europeans in Pierre were the two LaVerendrye brothers, the sons of the French explorer that first claimed the region in 1743. In the mid-eighteenth century, the Souix Indians arrived after being pushed out of Minnesota and challenged that claim of the Arikara to the land who were finally driven out by the Souix in 1794

This area was bought in 1803 as a part of the Louisiana Purchase. Pierre was a stop along the Lewis and Clark expedition. People were attracted to the rich land and, in 1817, Joseph LaFramboise built a fur trading post across the river from where Pierre now sits. In 1831, Fort Pierre was built to replace it.

Pierre was established as a town and ferry landing site in 1880 during the Great Dakota Boom in which many people flocked to this territory. It was chosen as the capital in 1890.

ATTRACTIONS

Cultural Heritage Center
La Framboise Island?
State Capital?
South Dakota Discovery Center and Aquarium?

RESTAURANTS

LODGING