Pierre & Fort Pierre

Pierre & Fort Pierre

Settled along the waters of Lake Sharpe, Pierre and Fort Pierre (pronounced “pier”) are the twin cities of central South Dakota. Pierre is the state capitol, the second smallest by population in the United States. The South Dakota State Capitol Building, built in 1910, is open year-round to visitors, as well as its surrounding grounds. Fort Pierre is its sister city, and is the oldest established settlement site in the state at over 200 years old. Fort Pierre has preserved many of its landmark sites and buildings.

The Missouri River marks the line between Central and Mountain time zones in this area. The 2-mile-long Oahe Dam creates the huge reservoir of Lake Oahe just 10 minutes north of both towns. The part of the river running through the cities is the beginning of reservoir Lake Sharpe, which ends at Big Bend Dam in Lower Brule Reservation. Residents and visitors play, hunt, and fish on both reservoirs. Pierre is the place for sports like professional baseball, while Fort Pierre takes to the arena for rodeos. On either side of the river, buffalo, mule deer, and pheasants roam the fields. On the water, bald eagles hunt and beavers make dams in the reeds; walleye, yellow perch, and northern pike can be found in Lake Sharpe and Lake Oahe. Salmon exclusively live in Lake Oahe due to its deeper, colder waters.