Fort Pierre, South Dakota

Verendrye Museum

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The Verendrye Museum in Fort Pierre is named for Louis and Chevalier Verendrye, two French brothers who explored the upper reaches of the Missouri River.

 

Verendrye Museum

In 1743, they buried a lead plate in a hill claiming the entire Missouri River drainage for France. The Verendrye Museum is located in the old American Legion Hall, a 1930’s vintage building that was placed on the National Historic Register July 31, 2017 and is owned by the City of Fort Pierre. The Historical Society of Old Stanley County had a vision of establishing a museum, which was realized in 1968 with the opening of the Verendrye Museum as a 501(c)3 non-profit corporation. The museum houses a collection of South Dakota and regional artifacts documenting the early history of the area.

The Verendrye Museum is open from 9:00 am to 4:00 pm Monday through Saturday and 11:00 am to 4:00 pm on Sunday during the tourist season of Memorial Day through Labor Day. If you are in Fort Pierre in the off season you can see some museum displays at the Fort Pierre Log Cabin Center located on the corner of Main and HWY 83.

  • Deb Schiefelbein – President
  • Wyatt Johnson – Vice President
  • Connie Carlisle – Treasurer
  • Dena Gabriel- Secretary
  • Lynn Fravel – Director
  • Sandy Cronin – Director
  • Brian Scott – Director
  • Mike Peterson – Director
  • Darby Nutter – Director

 

PO Box 665 Fort Pierre South Dakota 57532
E-mail:  contact@verendryemuseum.com
Web Site:  https://www.verendryemuseum.com/