Yankton in Yankton County, South Dakota — The American Midwest (Upper Plains)

Pierre Dorion, Sr.

Photographed by Roger Dean Meyer, July 2, 2007

1. Pierre Dorion, Sr. Marker

Inscription. West of this stone near the crest of the hill is the burial site of Pierre Dorion, Sr., an early trader in what is now South Dakota. Born in Canada in 1740, Pierre came to this area around 1774–1775 to trade with the Sioux. He married Holy Rainbow, the daughter of a Yankton Sioux chief. While delivering a boatload of hides and tallow to St. Louis, Pierre met the Corps of Discovery on June 12th, 1804 on their trek upriver and was hired as their interpreter. On August 29th & 30th, Pierre translated the Sioux language for Captains Lewis and Clark while in grand council below Calumet Bluff near Gavins Point Dam. Pierre was then hired by Lewis and Clark to take a delegation of Yankton Sioux to Washington D.C. to meet President Thomas Jefferson in 1805. Pierre died in 1810.

Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Cemeteries & Burial Sites • Indigenous Peoples and Communities • Industry & Commerce • Settlements & Settlers. In addition, it is included in the Former U.S. Presidents: #03 Thomas Jefferson series list. A significant historical month for this entry is June 1933.

Location. 42° 52.107′ N, 97° 24.012′ W. Marker is in Yankton, South Dakota, in Yankton County. It is at the intersection of West Second Street and Riverside Drive

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, on the left when traveling west on West Second Street. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Yankton SD 57078, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in the Yankton Sioux Tribe

and 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 Rupert’s Land

and also the Louisiana Purchase.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: West Wall / Yankton Stockade (about 600 feet away, measured in a direct line); The Yankton Stockade Site (approx. 0.2 miles away); Veterans Memorial (approx. 0.2 miles away); Courthouse Memorial (approx. 0.2 miles away); First Dakota National Bank of Yankton (approx. ¼ mile away); North Wall Yankton Stockade (approx. ¼ mile away); East Wall Yankton Stockade (approx. ¼ mile away); USS Scorpion (SS-278) (approx. 0.3 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Yankton.

Regarding Pierre Dorion, Sr.. If the burial site still exists, it is in some one’s yard. I could not find the site.

Also see . . . Lewis and Clark: Inside the Corps of Discovery. (Submitted on July 12, 2007, by Roger Dean Meyer of Yankton, South Dakota.)

Wide view of the Pierre Dorion, Sr. Marker image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Roger Dean Meyer, July 2, 2007

2. Wide view of the Pierre Dorion, Sr. Marker

Credits. This page was last revised on December 15, 2019. It was originally submitted on July 12, 2007, by Roger Dean Meyer of Yankton, South Dakota. This page has been viewed 3,959 times since then and 29 times this year. Last updated on August 24, 2010, by William J. Toman of Green Lake, Wisconsin. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on July 12, 2007, by Roger Dean Meyer of Yankton, South Dakota. • Kevin W. was the editor who published this page.