Downtown in Sioux Falls in Minnehaha County, South Dakota — The American Midwest (Upper Plains)
Seney Island
October 18, 2025
1. Seney Island Marker
Inscription.
Seney Island. . First known as Brookings Island, after W. W. Brookings of the Western Town Company, who staked a claim on the land, to start a town site in 1857. Early on it was called Picnic Island or just Island. It was very popular with citizens for water activities and picnicking. George Seney came to the City in 1879 at the urging of R F Pettigrew to fund and build the Queen Bee Mill. The island was named after Seney when he purchased the land. The west side became a dumping ground in 1907, as the Light Company filled in the channel on the west side of the river. And a Hydro dam diverted the water from the island. When the property became available for sale the Milwaukee Railroad made an offer to purchase. A group of local citizens wanted it to remain a park for activities, but were not able to match the price. In 1927 the M C H S was formed to help save the land for the public, but was not successful. An appeal was made to Mayor McKinnon, who said "it would be a hangout for bums" The Milwaukee offer to buy the land was accepted. Trees were cut down and citizens gradually stopped coming to the area. A lost area, as it was mainly reached by crossing through Sioux Steel Company property and soon became a desolate area full of weeds and rarely visited. Pitts Salvage Company occupied most of the land, which was purchased by the city in 2001.
First known as Brookings Island, after W. W. Brookings of the Western Town Company, who staked a claim on the land, to start a town site in 1857. Early on it was called Picnic Island or just Island. It was very popular with citizens for water activities and picnicking. George Seney came to the City in 1879 at the urging of R F Pettigrew to fund and build the Queen Bee Mill. The island was named after Seney when he purchased the land. The west side became a dumping ground in 1907, as the Light Company filled in the channel on the west side of the river. And a Hydro dam diverted the water from the island. When the property became available for sale the Milwaukee Railroad made an offer to purchase. A group of local citizens wanted it to remain a park for activities, but were not able to match the price. In 1927 the M C H S was formed to help save the land for the public, but was not successful. An appeal was made to Mayor McKinnon, who said "it would be a hangout for bums" The Milwaukee offer to buy the land was accepted. Trees were cut down and citizens gradually stopped coming to the area. A lost area, as it was mainly reached by crossing through Sioux Steel Company property and soon became a desolate area full of weeds and rarely visited. Pitts Salvage Company occupied most of the land, which was purchased by the city in 2001.
Location. 43° 33.186′ N, 96° 43.439′ W. Marker is in Sioux Falls, South Dakota, in Minnehaha County. It is in Downtown. It is on East 4th Place east of North Phillips Avenue, on the left when traveling south. Located at Lloyd Landing along the Big Sioux River. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 201 E 4th Pl, Sioux Falls SD 57104, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Regionally, this marker is in East River. It is also in the American Midwest, in the Lewis & Clark Corridor, in the Corn Belt, 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 Ruperts Land and also the Louisiana Purchase.
Credits. This page was last revised on October 27, 2025. It was originally submitted on October 27, 2025. This page has been viewed 70 times since then and 30 times this year. Photos:1, 2, 3, 4. submitted on October 27, 2025.
