Day 16 - Pierre, South Dakota

The day began with beautiful weather, which stayed with us throughout the day, becoming quite warm in the afternoon. 

Our first stop on our tour was the South Dakota Cultural Heritage Center.  It was full of wonderful displays including two real treasures specifically pertaining to the Lewis and Clark expedition.  They had an original peace medallion given to the Indians by the expedition and probably, most important, the La Verendrye Plate.  It established the French presence in the North American west in 1741.  It was made of lead, and discovered by a group of teenagers in 1913.  We went to its discovery site in the afternoon on a hilltop overlooking the town of Pierre and the Missouri River.  

The inscription on the plate translates:

“In the twenty-sixth year of the reign of

Louis XV, the most illustrious Lord, the 

Lord Marquis of Beauharnios, 1741,

Pierre Gaultier De La Verendrye placed

this.” Scratched on  the back are the words:

“Placed by the Chevalier Verendrye, 

Louis La Londette, and A. Miotte.

30 March 1743.”  

Gathered at Verendrye Site

A tour of the State Capitol followed the museum tour.  What a magnificent building!  Some of us walked down to the War Memorial which is on the Capitol grounds.  

War Memorial

Marble Stairway in CapitolBuilding

After lunch we went to Lily Park, a site on the banks of the river where the expedition almost could have ended.  The expedition escaped with their boats and supplies intact after a small band of Sioux attempted to commandeer them. 

Marker at Lily Point

Our final tour was the Oahe Dam and power plant.  It is ¾ of a mile wide at its base and is part of a series of dams built on the Missouri after WWII.  It was an interesting tour but quite noisy, making it difficult to hear our guide.  We did enjoy, with our guides encouragement, leaning against the generators for a “back massage.” 

Altogether, a great day!
John and June Pusley Rig# 17