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

Courthouse Memorial

Photographed by Roger Dean Meyer, July 30, 2006

1. Courthouse Memorial

Inscription. The Yankton County Courthouse stood at this site from 1905 to 2003. The handsome three-story building was dedicated Nov. 1, 1905. Speakers at that event estimated it would have "a long life of 25 years." The building far exceeded those expectations and served Yankton County residents for most of a century. Inspections and tests by a team of architects and engineers in 1999 and 2000 revealed several serious flaws in the structural integrity of the courthouse building. A new Yankton County Government Center was built to house county offices and it opened to the public in February 2003. The old courthouse was taken down in June 2003.

The towering flagpole, front steps and three, square stone columns that stood at the entrance remain as a memorial to the historic building. The original courthouse bell is mounted nearby. A portion of original stonework at the northwest corner of the old courthouse site is intact and serves as a bench near the bell. A donation from the Frank and Rose Brady Family assisted in the preservation of the memorial site.

Erected 2004 by Yankton County Commission, J.C. (Jerry) Bienert, Brian J. Hunhoff, Bruce D. Jensen, Allen R. Sinclair, Wm. R. (Bill) Tamisiea.

Topics. This historical marker and memorial is listed in this topic list: Notable Buildings. A significant historical month for this entry is February 2003.

Location.

Paid Advertisement

Click or scan to see
this page online

42° 52.186′ N, 97° 23.79′ W. Marker is in Yankton, South Dakota, in Yankton County. It is at the intersection of West Third Street and Broadway Avenue (U.S. 81), on the right when traveling east on West Third Street. Located in front of the new Government Center. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Yankton SD 57078, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker and memorial 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 5 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: Veterans Memorial (here, next to this marker); The Yankton Stockade Site (a few steps from this marker); First Dakota National Bank of Yankton (within shouting distance of this marker); East Wall Yankton Stockade (about 400 feet away, measured in a direct line); North Wall Yankton Stockade (about 500 feet away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Yankton.

Photo of the old courthouse. image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Roger Dean Meyer

2. Photo of the old courthouse.

Courthouse Memorial with bell and bench. image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Roger Dean Meyer, July 30, 2006

3. Courthouse Memorial with bell and bench.

Courthouse dedication plaque. image. Click for full size.

July 18, 2021

4. Courthouse dedication plaque.

Rear of Courthouse Memorial image. Click for full size.

July 18, 2021

5. Rear of Courthouse Memorial

Original Courthouse Bell image. Click for full size.

July 18, 2021

6. Original Courthouse Bell

Credits. This page was last revised on August 4, 2021. It was originally submitted on December 8, 2006, by Roger Dean Meyer of Yankton, South Dakota. This page has been viewed 2,720 times since then and 25 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on December 8, 2006, by Roger Dean Meyer of Yankton, South Dakota. 4, 5. submitted on August 1, 2021. 6. submitted on August 2, 2021. • J. J. Prats was the editor who published this page.