Near Fort Pierre in Stanley County, South Dakota — The American Midwest (Upper Plains)

Centre of Missouri Valley History

Photographed by Ruth VanSteenwyk, April 2, 2021

1. Centre of Missouri Valley History Marker

Inscription. Here, you are halfway from the mouth of the source of the Missouri. Here was the centre of the Fur Trade for half a century, with eight different fur posts and two military posts within your vision. (See Map on reverse). This was, before white man came, an Indian capital. On this side, ½ mile above the dam and 25 miles downstream, were great bastioned fortresses. East of the river 10 miles North and 15 South were their counterparts. The remains of the downstream forts are to be seen today. Amid them were scores of Indian villages, cultivated lands. They were here in 1743 when Verendrye planted a leaden plate for France, four miles downstream. Here, in 1804 Lewis & Clark counciled with the Teton Sioux on this very dam site. Here, in 1811 the famous brawl immortalized by Washington Irving between Manuel Lisa and Hunt, leader of the Astorians, occurred. By 1817 there were permanent fur posts. Here in 1831, the Yellowstone, first steamboat, came to carry away the buffalo hides and decimate the fabulous herds. Here, in 1856, Harney counciled with the Sioux, the largest aggregation of Indians ever assembled. Here, Sully's expeditions

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of 1863 and 1864 against the hostile Sioux jumped off. Here was the steamboat head for the great Black Hills Gold Rush in 1876 and the railhead for its continuance from 1880 to 1886. This is Historic Ground.

Reverse
The Missouri River was
Historic Highway
There are markers or monuments at many of these sites.
Steamboat Wrecks
1 Ada Belle 1923
2 Bachelor 1869
3 New Elia 1881
4 Sioux City No. 2 1873
5 Peoria Belle 1864
6 F. Y. Batchelor 1879
7 Lizzie Reed 1 901

Sites
F New Fort Pierre 1859-64
G Old Fort Pierre 1831-56
H Indian Mosaic 1780?
I Center Monument
J Fort Tecumseh 1822-31
K Verendrye Monument 1743
L Forts La Frambois I & Teton 1817
M Old Fort Sully 1863-66
Am. Fur Co. 1863
N Ancient Indian Fort 1450?
O Narcelle Ranch 1856
Warren Camp 1855
P Fort George 1840
Q Fort George Indian Fortress 1450?
R Loisel Fur Post 1802-09
S

Centre of Missouri Valley History Marker <i>(Reverse Side)</i> image. Click for full size.

May 14, 2023

2. Centre of Missouri Valley History Marker (Reverse Side)

Fort Bouis or Defiance 1845-46
T Lower Brule Agency 1894

Historic Sites
1 Medicine Rock - Now at Gettysburg
2 Cheyenne Agency 1891-1958
3 Forest City 1883 - 1st County Seat
4 Fairbanks - Ghost Town 1883-90
5 Jon Valle Trade Post 1 804
6 Rousseau Ranch & Cemetery
7 Fort Bennett 1870-91
8 Fort Sully 2nd 1866-92
9 Hope Mission 1872
A Oahe Mission 1873
B Sully's Camp 1863
C Fort La Frambois 1862
D Fort Primeau 1863
E Fort Galpin 1857

Erected 1957 by Glenn W. Martens and State Historical Society. (Marker Number 211.)

Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Indigenous Peoples and Communities • Industry & Commerce • Settlements & Settlers • Waterways & Vessels. In addition, it is included in the South Dakota State Historical Society Markers series list. A significant historical year for this entry is 1743.

Location. 44° 26.503′ N, 100° 25.212′ W. Marker is near Fort Pierre, South Dakota, in Stanley County.

Photographed by Ruth VanSteenwyk, April 2, 2021

3. Centre of Missouri Valley History Marker

It can be reached from the intersection of South Dakota Route 1806 and Route 204. Located at the top of the Oahe Dam in an overlook area. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Fort Pierre SD 57532, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in the Crow Creek Sioux Tribe

and in East River.

It is also in the American Lewis & Clark Corridor,

on the prairies,

and on the Northern Plains.

Globally, it is in North America,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once Rupert’s Land

and also the Louisiana Purchase.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 3 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies: Stilling Basin (approx. half a mile away); Archeology in Oahe Downstream (approx. 1.4 miles away); The Arikara / The Sioux (approx. 1.4 miles away); Steamboats (approx. 1.4 miles away); Honored Guests / Momentarily Adrift (approx. 1.6 miles away); Oahe Mission (approx. 2 miles away); Oahe Mission School and Chapel (approx. 2 miles away); The Lewis & Clark Expedition (approx. 2.2 miles away). Touch for a list and map

Centre of Missouri Valley History Marker, from the west image. Click for full size.

May 14, 2023

4. Centre of Missouri Valley History Marker, from the west

of all markers in Fort Pierre.

Photographed by Ruth VanSteenwyk, April 2, 2021

5. Lake Oahe

Credits. This page was last revised on May 20, 2023. It was originally submitted on April 8, 2021, by Ruth VanSteenwyk of Aberdeen, South Dakota. This page has been viewed 314 times since then and 37 times this year. Last updated on January 12, 2022. Photos: 1. submitted on April 8, 2021, by Ruth VanSteenwyk of Aberdeen, South Dakota. 2. submitted on May 19, 2023. 3. submitted on April 8, 2021, by Ruth VanSteenwyk of Aberdeen, South Dakota. 4. submitted on May 19, 2023. 5. submitted on April 8, 2021, by Ruth VanSteenwyk of Aberdeen, South Dakota. • J. Makali Bruton was the editor who published this page.