Founded in 1880, Pierre is the capital city of South Dakota, and it is also the county seat of Hughes County.
According to the 2020 census, Pierre has a population of 14,091.
The United State Census Bureau reports that Pierre has 13.06 square miles of land and only 0.01 square miles of water.
Pierre is near the Missouri River and Lake Oahe.
Pierre is famous as the site of Fort Pierre, a major trading outpost in the 18th century.
Here is a list of the best things to do in Pierre, San Dakota.
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The South Dakota State Capitol hosts the South Dakota State Legislature.
You can visit the building at Capitol Avenue.
The South Dakota State Capitol Building was completed in 1910.
People often visit the South Dakota State Capitol to admire its impressive architecture.
Take photos of the towering scagliola columns and the beautiful stained glass windows.
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Once you enter the capitol building, you can pick up one of their self-guided books with information on the building.
You can look at the pictures of the various state officials of South Dakota.
Numerous trees around the capitol grounds make the area a great place to walk.
There is a gift shop at the lower level of the capitol building if you want South Dakota-related memorabilia.
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The South Dakota Cultural Heritage Center is a museum that focuses on the history of Pierre and South Dakota.
You can visit the museum at Governors Drive.
The museum is free for children below 17 years old.
The South Dakota Cultural Heritage Center houses the South Dakota State Museum and the South Dakota Archives.
The state museum has various exhibits about South Dakota that visitors can enjoy.
The South Dakota Archives hosts more than 12,000 cubic feet of records about the origins of South Dakota and its inhabitants.
The South Dakota Discovery Center is a museum primarily aimed at kids.
You can find the South Dakota Discovery Center at Sioux Avenue.
The museum offers sessions where children and adults can learn more about science.
The museum is famous for its exhibit hall, with dioramas of the earth and the other planets within our solar system.
Take your kids to their treehouse exhibit, where they can have an interactive learning experience about climate, animals, and nature.
The South Dakota Discovery Center boasts a town where children can role-play their clinic, cafe, nursery, and postal station.
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Capitol Lake is an artificial lake beside the South Dakota Capitol Building.
Historically, Capitol Lake was a popular spot for ice skating and fishing.
However, the city has discontinued these activities to promote a livelier lake ecosystem.
Regarding activities, Capitol Lake is an ideal spot to go birdwatching due to the large number of waterfowl that pass through the lake.
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The lake is a popular spot for visitors to feed the birds and enjoy scenic river views.
Many animals reside within the lake, including goldfish, carp, salamanders, and turtles.
While at the lake, feel free to stop by the Visitor Center to learn more about any local events you can join.
Farm Island Recreation Area is a park in Pierre, South Dakota.
You can find the park along Farm Island Road.
The park hosts various recreational activities for park guests to enjoy.
The park has a spacious campground for visitors who want to stay there overnight.
You can go swimming in the lake and hiking along the trails that circle the recreation area.
The park has an archery range, basketball courts, and volleyball courts.
Farm Island is also an ideal spot to go bird watching as many migratory waterfowl pass by the park.
Farm Island has easy access to Lake Sharpe, where park guests can go fishing and boating.
Historically, the park has appeared in the famous adventure of Lewis and Clark.
The park celebrates this knowledge through the Lewis and Clark family center.
The Casey Tibbs Rodeo Center is a museum that highlights the cultural significance of rodeos to the people of Pierre, South Dakota.
You can visit the museum at Verendrye Drive, Fort Pierre, six minutes from Pierre.
The museum gets its name from Casey Tibbs, a nine-time World Champion rodeo rider.
The museum hosts many exhibits about the history of rodeo and the many rodeo riders who hailed from Pierre.
Check out their horse wagon display, large western mura, and biographical films of famous rodeo riders.
You can find vintage photographs of the rodeo at its peak.
The museum has displays on the sport of rodeo from both the local and national levels.
Learn more about how rodeo evolved from a regular occupation into a professional sport at the Casey Tibbs Rodeo Center Museum.
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The Fighting Stallions Memorial is a memorial park in Pierre, South Dakota.
You can stop by the memorial along Capitol Avenue.
The Fighting Stallions Memorial commemorates the eight South Dakotans that passed away in an aircraft crash on April 19, 1993.
The memorial is a bronze sculpture of two stallions fighting each other.
This sculpture represents the struggle of the people of South Dakota to get through hard times and persevere for a brighter future.
The memorial is a significant landmark in the community of South Dakota.
Many locals volunteered and donated the necessary funds and materials to finish the monument.
The South Dakota National Guard Museum is a military museum in Pierre, South Dakota.
You can check out the museum along Dakota Avenue.
In 1982, the Department of Military and Veterans Affairs established the museum.
The South Dakota National Guard Museum celebrates and commemorates the legacy of the South Dakota National Guard.
The museum is famous for its extensive collection of airplanes, tanks, and other conventional military equipment.
The museum’s upper level was a storage space for military weapons and vehicles.
On the other hand, the museum’s lower level was a maintenance area for military vehicles.
Approach the museum staff to get a guided tour of the military history of South Dakota.
The La Framboise Island State Nature Area is a state park in Pierre, South Dakota.
You can check out the park at La Framboise Island.
Guests often visit this place for water activities along the Missouri River.
You can rent boats and canoes for use.
Other activities you can try in the park include fishing, picnicking, and hunting.
The location is ideal for birdwatching as many waterfowl swim on the riverside.
The park houses many trails where you can either hike on foot or traverse via bicycle.
During winter, you can use their cross-country skiing facilities.
The Verendrye Museum is a museum that documents the history of Fort Pierre, South Dakota.
The museum is at Deadwood Street, Fort Pierre, five minutes from Pierre.
The Old Stanley County Historical Society founded this museum in 1968 to preserve the history of Fort Pierre.
The Verendrye Museum takes its name from Louis and Chevalier Verendrye, French pioneers who ventured through the Missouri River.
These brothers are famous for burying a lead plate on the grounds of Fort Pierre and claiming the Missouri River basin in the name of France.
The museum is inside a quaint 1930s building, mainly used as a community hall.
Drop by the Fort Pierre Log Cabin Visitor Center for their gift shop, where you can find items like coins, trail maps, calendars, and the like for sale.
Fort Pierre Chouteau National Historic Landmark is a major historical site in South Dakota on Chouteau Road, Fort Pierre, eight minutes from Pierre.
The American Fur Company built Fort Pierre in the 18th century.
Pierre Chouteau was a trading fort and military outpost on the west bank of the Missouri River.
At the time, it was the center of business and commerce in the region, especially for European settlers.
Fort Pierre Chouteau produced fur items for trading, the most famous whiteware.
Their buffalo robes sold for high prices.
Currently, a national historic landmark stands where the fort used to stand.
The landmark provides information on the fort’s history and commemorates its unique place in the history of Pierre and South Dakota.
The Fort Pierre Depot Museum is a museum that focuses on the legacy of Fort Pierre, South Dakota.
You can find the museum near 1st Street and 4th Avenue in Fort Pierre, four minutes from Pierre.
The Fort Pierre Deport Museum features an exhibition of railroad memorabilia dating from the early 20th century.
Virginia Windedahl Hart, a former resident of Pierre, initially donated an extensive collection of items that her father, Ernest Windedahl, owned.
Ernest Windedahl worked as a Depot Agent at Fort Pierre from 1949 to 1958.
The museum now showcases his belongings, such as his uniform, telegraph equipment, and other documents related to his duties as a Depot Agent at Fort Pierre.
The Verendrye Monument is a historical landmark along Verendrye Drive, Fort Pierre, seven minutes from Pierre.
The monument became a National Historic Landmark in 1991.
The Verendrye Monument is a historical and archaeological site.
The monument was built where the Chevalier brothers buried the lead plate that signified their intention to claim the land for France in 1743.
The lead plate was excavated from the site in 1913 and is now on display at the South Dakota Cultural Heritage Center.
Today, the site is a public park where guests can come to appreciate a piece of American history.
Visitors can gain more insight into the site and its significance through the inscription engraved on the erected monument.
The Oahe Downstream State Recreation Area is a waterfront park in Fort Pierre.
You can check out the park at Marina Loop, 13 minutes from Pierre.
The Oahe Downstream State Recreation Area is famous for its location near Lake Oahe and its various waterfront activities for guests.
The park is also an excellent spot for guests to go birdwatching.
You can spot a bald eagle resting at the park’s treetops if you’re lucky.
Enjoy the gorgeous views of Lake Oahe during your overnight stay at their waterfront campground.
Get some exercise by hiking along the various trails at the park.
Compete in a friendly game of disc golf at their disc golf course.
Feel free to go fishing and boating by Lake Oahe.
Take photos of flora and fauna at the South Dakota Prairie Butterfly Garden near the park’s main entrance.
Fischers Lilly Park is an outdoor recreational area in Fort Pierre.
The park is situated at Ash Avenue, seven minutes from Pierre.
The park was certified as a Lewis and Clark National Historic Trail Site in 2004.
Fishers Lilly Park is great for campers bringing their RVs because their RV pads come with electric sockets.
These RV spots are available for all park guests to use on a first-come, first-served basis.
If you need to quench your thirst, the park provides free water access to all its guests.
Fishers Lilly Park has playground facilities for children to explore.
The park is also an excellent spot for a picnic due to the many tables and shelters within the park grounds.
You can enjoy waterfront activities in the park by going to the boat ramp of the Bad River.
Pierre is where history and recreational activities intertwine.
If you are looking for a getaway where history comes to life, Pierre is the city for you.
Check out this list of the best things to do in Pierre, South Dakota, to help you plan your itinerary.
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