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Pierre to Bismarck

Pierre to Bismarck
Trip Summary

Number of stops: 6

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Travel up the Missouri River, retracing the path of the Corps of Discovery from Pierre on U.S. Highway 83, paralleling the path of the Lewis and Clark Expedition as you travel toward Mobridge. Reflect on the Missouri River’s role in shaping the history of westward expansion and the fur trade. Your first stop is the Sacagawea and Sitting Bull Monuments, offering stunning views of the Misouri River.

Explore the legacy of Sitting Bull’s burial sites in Mobridge and Fort Yates, where tensions persist over the location of his final resting place. Continue to reconstructed Fort Manuel Lisa, an early trading post and near where Sacagawea is thought to have died. Travel north through landscapes linked to Sitting Bull’s legacy before visiting Fort Abraham Lincoln State Park, where you’ll learn about Custer and the Hidatsa people at On A Slant Village. In Bismarck, explore the North Dakota Heritage Center, the Sakakawea Statue, and Double Ditch State Historic Site to understand the region’s rich history and cultural significance.

Check the Lewis and Clark Trail Experience Events page as you plan your visit to find additional festivals, programs, and events along your route and read in depth about the journey in Discovering Lewis and Clark and  our Digital Travel Magazine

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Stop 1: Pierre and Fort Pierre

Fort Pierre, nestled in the heart of South Dakota, is a captivating destination where history, culture, and natural beauty converge. This charming community offers travelers a unique opportunity to explore the story of the American frontier while enjoying the serene landscapes of the Great Plains.

The Lewis and Clark Encounter at Bad River
One of Fort Pierre’s most significant historical sites is the confluence of the Bad River and the Missouri River. Here, in September 1804, the Lewis and Clark Expedition had a pivotal encounter with the Teton Lakota (Sioux) people. This meeting, though tense, marked a critical moment in their journey of exploration and cultural exchange. Today, visitors can immerse themselves in this history by visiting interpretive markers and sites near the Bad River. The area offers insights into the expedition’s challenges and the significance of the Lakota Nation in shaping the region's history.

The Verendrye Monument
Fort Pierre is also home to the Verendrye Monument, a National Historic Landmark honoring French explorers who traveled through the region nearly 60 years before Lewis and Clark. From the hilltop monument, visitors enjoy sweeping views of the Missouri River valley, a landscape much like the one that greeted early explorers centuries ago.

Dive deeper into the area's heritage at the Casey Tibbs South Dakota Rodeo Center. This museum celebrates the life of legendary rodeo cowboy Casey Tibbs and the broader history of South Dakota’s ranching and rodeo culture. It's a fascinating glimpse into the spirit of the American West.

Nature enthusiasts will love the wealth of outdoor activities Fort Pierre offers. The Missouri River is a hub for fishing, kayaking, and boating, while the Fort Pierre National Grassland provides ample opportunities for hiking, birdwatching, and stargazing. Hunters can also enjoy the area's rich wildlife, including pheasant, deer, and waterfowl.
Fort Pierre, with its rich blend of history, culture, and outdoor recreation, offers a journey back in time while catering to modern explorers. Whether you're tracing the footsteps of Lewis and Clark, marveling at the views from the Verendrye Monument, or enjoying the natural beauty of the Missouri River, this hidden gem invites you to experience the enduring legacy of America's frontier spirit.

Across the river, Pierre, South Dakota, offers a rich tapestry of historical and heritage travel experiences, highlighting the area’s Native American culture, westward expansion, and frontier history. Here’s a synopsis of what travelers can explore:

Native American Heritage
Pierre is in the heart of the traditional homeland of the Lakota, Dakota, and Nakota Sioux Tribes. Visitors can explore the cultural and historical significance of the region through sites like the Cultural Heritage Center, which houses exhibits on Native American history, artifacts, and stories that reflect the deep connection between the Sioux people and the land.

Missouri River and Lewis & Clark
The Missouri River, which flows through Pierre, played a central role in the Lewis and Clark Expedition. The Missouri River Trail and interpretive exhibits in the area detail the Corps of Discovery’s journey, their interactions with local tribes, and their navigation challenges along the river. Outdoor activities like walking trails and river tours offer modern visitors a chance to connect with this historic waterway.

Frontier and Pioneer History
Pierre served as a key point in the settlement of the American West. Sites like Fort Pierre Chouteau, a fur trading post dating back to the early 19th century, bring this history to life. Visitors can learn about the role of trade and settlement in shaping the region, as well as the relationships between traders and Native American communities.

State Capitol and Historical Landmarks
The South Dakota State Capitol in Pierre, completed in 1910, offers tours showcasing its architecture and historical significance. The grounds feature memorials to various state milestones and influential figures. Nearby, the Trail of Governors provides a unique opportunity to explore statues of past governors, connecting modern governance to the state’s pioneering roots.

Outdoor Exploration and Connection to History
The natural landscapes surrounding Pierre also tell a historical story. From Oahe Dam and Lake (a massive New Deal-era infrastructure project) to the preserved prairies, the area reflects the intertwining of human history and the environment.

Stop 1

Pierre, South Dakota, USA

South Dakota Discovery Center

South Dakota Discovery Center, West Sioux Avenue, Pierre, SD, USA

LaFramboise Island Nature Area

LaFramboise Island Nature Area, LaFramboise Island Trail, Pierre, SD, USA

Chicago and North Western Railroad Bridge

Missouri River Bridge, South Dakota 34, Fort Pierre, SD, USA

South Dakota State Historical Society Museum

South Dakota State Historical Society, Governors Drive, Pierre, SD, USA

Bad Humored Island

102 4th Ave, Fort Pierre, SD 57532, USA

Verendrye Museum

Verendrye Museum, Deadwood Street, Fort Pierre, SD, USA

Bad River Encounter Site

Fischers Lilly Park, Ash Avenue, Fort Pierre, SD, USA

Fort Pierre Depot Museum

Fort Pierre Depot Museum, Fort Pierre, SD, USA

Fort Pierre Trader Days

Fort Pierre, SD, USA

Fort Pierre, South Dakota

Fort Pierre, SD, USA

La Verendrye Site National Register of Historic Places Designation

Verendrye Monument, Verendrye Drive, Fort Pierre, SD, USA

Fort Pierre Chouteau Site National Register of Historic Places

Fort Pierre Chouteau, Fort Chouteau Road, Fort Pierre, SD, USA

Places to Visit (Sorted by Distance)

South Dakota Discovery Center
South Dakota Discovery Center

South Dakota Discovery Center, West Sioux Avenue, Pierre, SD, USA

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LaFramboise Island Nature Area
LaFramboise Island Nature Area

LaFramboise Island Nature Area, LaFramboise Island Trail, Pierre, SD, USA

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Chicago and North Western Railroad Bridge
Chicago and North Western Railroad Bridge

Missouri River Bridge, South Dakota 34, Fort Pierre, SD, USA

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South Dakota State Historical Society Museum
South Dakota State Historical Society Museum

South Dakota State Historical Society, Governors Drive, Pierre, SD, USA

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Bad Humored Island
Bad Humored Island

102 4th Ave, Fort Pierre, SD 57532, USA

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Verendrye Museum
Verendrye Museum

Verendrye Museum, Deadwood Street, Fort Pierre, SD, USA

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Bad River Encounter Site
Bad River Encounter Site

Fischers Lilly Park, Ash Avenue, Fort Pierre, SD, USA

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Fort Pierre Depot Museum
Fort Pierre Depot Museum

Fort Pierre Depot Museum, Fort Pierre, SD, USA

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Fort Pierre Trader Days
Fort Pierre Trader Days

Fort Pierre, SD, USA

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Fort Pierre, South Dakota
Fort Pierre, South Dakota

Fort Pierre, SD, USA

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La Verendrye Site National Register of Historic Places Designation
La Verendrye Site National Register of Historic Places Designation

Verendrye Monument, Verendrye Drive, Fort Pierre, SD, USA

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Fort Pierre Chouteau Site National Register of Historic Places
Fort Pierre Chouteau Site National Register of Historic Places

Fort Pierre Chouteau, Fort Chouteau Road, Fort Pierre, SD, USA

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Stop 2: Mobridge

You will arrive in Mobridge on the east side of the river. Cross over the bridge and turn south on State Highway 1806 toward the Sitting Bull and Sacagawea monuments. Sitting Bull was initially buried near Fort Yates, North Dakota, on the Standing Rock Reservation, where he had spent his later years. This unmarked grave became the site of a 1953 memorial, erected by the state of North Dakota to honor his legacy. However, in the same year, a group of Lakota men, along with Mobridge, South Dakota representatives, claimed to have exhumed his remains from Fort Yates and reburied them near Mobridge, closer to his birthplace. This new site was marked by a granite monument and a bust of Sitting Bull, created by sculptor Korczak Ziolkowski, who also worked on the Crazy Horse Memorial. The view here is spectacular.

Take in the panorama offered at this high point where you can overlook the Missouri River.

Stop 2

Mobridge, SD, USA

Sitting Bull Stampede Rodeo Grounds

Mobridge Rodeo Arena, 6th St E, Mobridge, SD, USA

Sitting Bull Memorial

Sitting Bull Monument, US-212, Mobridge, SD, USA

Places to Visit (Sorted by Distance)

Sitting Bull Stampede Rodeo Grounds
Sitting Bull Stampede Rodeo Grounds

Mobridge Rodeo Arena, 6th St E, Mobridge, SD, USA

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Sitting Bull Memorial
Sitting Bull Memorial

Sitting Bull Monument, US-212, Mobridge, SD, USA

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Stop 3: Fort Manuel

Fort Manuel Lisa, located on the west bank of the Missouri River about 70 miles south of Bismarck, North Dakota, in present-day South Dakota, holds dual historical significance. Established in 1812 by Manuel Lisa, a prominent trader of the Missouri Fur Company, it was among the first fortified posts of the upper Missouri fur trade era.

Despite its brief existence, Fort Manuel played a role in international conflict during the War of 1812. On March 5, 1813, it was attacked and destroyed by Native Americans, reportedly at the instigation of the British, resulting in the massacre of 15 of Lisa's men.

The site is also notable as the place where Sacagawea, the legendary member of the Lewis and Clark Expedition, died on December 20, 1812. John C. Luttig, Lisa’s clerk at Fort Manuel, kept a journal that included this entry for 20 December 1812: “This Evening the Wife of Charbonneau a Snake Squaw, died of a putrid fever she was a good and best Woman in the fort, aged about 25 years she left a fine infant girl.”

Luttig was named guardian of Jean Baptiste and Lisette in a St. Louis court document. His name was later replaced with that of William Clark, who paid for the raising and education of the children in St Louis. When Clark wrote his list of the fates of expedition members sometime between 1825 and 1828, he noted Sacagawea as deceased.

Another story of Sacagawea’s later years and death must be mentioned, the oral tradition of the Eastern Shoshone people. (Sacagawea’s people were western Shoshones who lived in the present Lemhi River valley, in Idaho.) The story handed down among the Wind River Shoshones is that Sacagawea adopted an Eastern Shoshone man named Bazil, as her son, and in her later years moved to live with him in Wyoming. There, according to Eastern Shoshone tradition, she is said to have died in 1884, at nearly 100 years of age, and was buried at Fort Washakie on the Wind River [Shoshone] Indian Reservation.

Today the original site of Fort Manuel is under the impounded waters of Lake Oahe, created by damming the Missouri River. The replica represents what the fort likely looked like.

Stop 3

Fort Manuel, Pollock, SD, USA

Fort Manuel – Sacagawea Death

Fort Manuel, Pollock, SD, USA

Places to Visit (Sorted by Distance)

Fort Manuel – Sacagawea Death
Fort Manuel – Sacagawea Death

Fort Manuel, Pollock, SD, USA

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Stop 4: Fort Yates

Fort Yates, located on the Standing Rock Indian Reservation in North Dakota, holds significant historical and cultural importance, particularly in connection to Sitting Bull, one of the most prominent Lakota leaders. Fort Yates serves as the headquarters of the Standing Rock Sioux Tribe, which spans both North Dakota and South Dakota. Established in 1874 as a military outpost, the fort was intended to oversee relations between the U.S. government and the Sioux Nation. Standing Rock itself is home to the Lakota (Western Sioux) and Dakota (Eastern Sioux) peoples, and the reservation is rich in culture, history, and traditions tied deeply to the land. The name "Standing Rock" refers to a stone formation traditionally significant to the Lakota and Dakota people, symbolizing a woman and child turned to stone during their journey for survival.

Sitting Bull, a Hunkpapa Lakota leader, is perhaps best known for his resistance to U.S. government policies, especially his leadership during the Battle of the Little Bighorn in 1876, where his forces famously defeated General George Armstrong Custer. Sitting Bull's connection to Fort Yates is marked by his arrest near Standing Rock in 1890, a time of rising tensions linked to the Ghost Dance movement, which the U.S. government feared could incite rebellion. Tragically, Sitting Bull was killed during an attempted arrest by Indian police at his camp near the Grand River, not far from the fort. The location of his burial remains debated, with some believing he was buried near Fort Yates, while others argue his remains were moved to Mobridge, South Dakota.

Stop 4

Fort Yates, ND, USA

Sitting Bull Burial Ground – Fort Yates ND

Sitting Bull Burial Site and Memorial, Dike Road, Fort Yates, ND, USA

Standing Rock Monument

39VF+F5 Fort Yates, North Dakota, USA

Sitting Bull Visitor Center

SBC Visitor Center, ND-24, Fort Yates, ND, USA

Places to Visit (Sorted by Distance)

Sitting Bull Burial Ground – Fort Yates ND
Sitting Bull Burial Ground – Fort Yates ND

Sitting Bull Burial Site and Memorial, Dike Road, Fort Yates, ND, USA

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Standing Rock Monument
Standing Rock Monument

39VF+F5 Fort Yates, North Dakota, USA

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Sitting Bull Visitor Center
Sitting Bull Visitor Center

SBC Visitor Center, ND-24, Fort Yates, ND, USA

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Stop 5: On a Slant Villlage

Travelers along the Lewis and Clark National Historic Trail are encouraged to stop and explore the On-A-Slant Indian Village at Fort Abraham Lincoln State Park in Mandan, North Dakota. This historic site offers a fascinating glimpse into the lives of the Mandan people, who inhabited the area from approximately 1575 to the late 1700s. Nestled on a sloping bank near the Missouri River, the village features reconstructed earthlodges, showcasing the Mandan’s traditional architectural ingenuity and agricultural lifestyle. Guided tours are available daily from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., and visitors can also enjoy exhibits on Mandan history, camping facilities, hiking trails, and a gift shop with handcrafted souvenirs. The park is open year-round from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m., with a $7 per vehicle entrance fee and additional charges for certain tours, such as the nearby Custer House. To plan your visit, check current hours and events by contacting the park at (701) 667-6340 or visiting their official website. This enriching destination invites you to step back in time and immerse yourself in the cultural heritage of the Mandan people while enjoying the scenic beauty of North Dakota’s landscape.

Stop 5

On-A-Slant Indian Village, Mandan, ND, USA

Fort Abraham Lincoln State Park

Fort Abraham Lincoln State Park, Fort Lincoln Road, Mandan, ND, USA

On-A-Slant Village

Fort Abraham Lincoln State Park, Fort Lincoln Road, Mandan, ND, USA

Places to Visit (Sorted by Distance)

Fort Abraham Lincoln State Park
Fort Abraham Lincoln State Park

Fort Abraham Lincoln State Park, Fort Lincoln Road, Mandan, ND, USA

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On-A-Slant Village
On-A-Slant Village

Fort Abraham Lincoln State Park, Fort Lincoln Road, Mandan, ND, USA

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Stop 6: Bismarck

In Bismarck, North Dakota, several historic sites offer insights into the region’s rich heritage. The North Dakota State Capitol, known as the "Skyscraper on the Prairie," stands as the tallest building in the state and showcases Art Deco architecture. Visitors can take guided tours to learn about the state’s government and history, while the surrounding Capitol Grounds feature monuments, statues, and the North Dakota Heritage Center & State Museum. The museum, located on the Capitol Grounds, highlights North Dakota’s history, geology, and culture, with exhibits showcasing Native American artifacts, dinosaur fossils, and the story of the state's settlement and statehood. Another notable landmark is the Sakakawea Statue, located near the Capitol, which honors Sakakawea (Sacagawea), the Shoshone woman who played a crucial role in the Lewis and Clark Expedition.

Stop 6

Bismarck, ND, USA

North Dakota State Capitol

600 E Boulevard Ave, Bismarck, ND 58501, USA

Sakakawea Statue – Bismarck, North Dakota

Sakakawea Statue, East Boulevard Avenue, Bismarck, ND, USA

North Dakota Heritage Center & State Museum

North Dakota Heritage Center & State Museum, East Boulevard Avenue, Bismarck, ND, USA

Keelboat Park

Keelboat Park, 1605 River Rd, Bismarck, ND 58503, USA

Double Ditch Indian Village

Double Ditch Indian Village State Historic Site, North Dakota 1804, Bismarck, ND, USA

Places to Visit (Sorted by Distance)

North Dakota State Capitol
North Dakota State Capitol

600 E Boulevard Ave, Bismarck, ND 58501, USA

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Sakakawea Statue – Bismarck, North Dakota
Sakakawea Statue – Bismarck, North Dakota

Sakakawea Statue, East Boulevard Avenue, Bismarck, ND, USA

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North Dakota Heritage Center & State Museum
North Dakota Heritage Center & State Museum

North Dakota Heritage Center & State Museum, East Boulevard Avenue, Bismarck, ND, USA

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Keelboat Park
Keelboat Park

Keelboat Park, 1605 River Rd, Bismarck, ND 58503, USA

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Double Ditch Indian Village
Double Ditch Indian Village

Double Ditch Indian Village State Historic Site, North Dakota 1804, Bismarck, ND, USA

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