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.
Museum closed for 2019
The museum will be closed for renovations for the summer of 2019. Other historic sites such as the Train Depot, Log Cabin and Orton bell are open to the public at no charge. Those interested in visiting the Sansarc Country School, check in with the staff at the log cabin.
Support your local merchants! All gift shop items are available at the Log Cabin Visitor Center in Fort Pierre, Monday through Friday from 9am-4pm (central time).
Items such as country school books, note cards, coins, prints, trail maps, trail book and calendar and more are available for purchase at the Fort Pierre Log Cabin Visitor Center or contact Deb at: 605-280-9550. See our Gift Shop Items tab.
Summer 2019 News:
Thank you to our Supporters of the Verendrye Museum Backyard BBQ! A-G-E won 1st place in the competition! More than 150 people attended the event! Congratulations to A-G-E Corp for getting first place in the competition – beating out the other 21 competitors! (more details to follow) Main
Main Sponsors: Carlisle Ranch, Dakota Radio Group (DRG), KCCR, Modern Woodmen
General Sponsors: BankWest, Dakota Prairie Bank, First Dakota National Bank, First National Bank, Gateway Ford, Lincoln, Toyota, Karl’s TV & Appliance, North Star Financial, Reube’s Welding, SD Beef Industry Council, Stulken, Petersen, Lingle, Walti & Jones, Take Charge Bookkeeping, Tex’s Jack Repair, Wegner Auto
Other Sponsors: BankWest, Catlin’s Car Clinic/Fort Pierre Motors, Chase Auto, City of Fort Pierre, Clausen and Rice LLP, Don Bourk, Eddie’s Truck Center, Farm Credit Services, Fischer Rounds & Associates, Hogan’s Hardware & Kitchen, Jerome Beverages, Lynn’s Dakotamart, Moose Lodge, Perkins, Robin’s Water, Runnings, Steve Jonas A-G-E, Bad River Mafia 1, Bad River Mafia 2, Beck Motors Camping Crew,Bottom Line Welding, Burnt Offerins, Chase Auto, Cowboy Country Store, Dakota Prairie Bank, Dakota Mill & Grain, Fine Line Auto , First National Bank, Ft Pierre Fire Dept, Graham Tire, Grossenburg Implement, Inman’s Water, Prairie ATV, Prairie Traders, Sioux Nation, WW Tire, Zander Auto Place, Zay Norman Ranches.
Contestants:
A-G-E, Bad River Mafia 1, Bad River Mafia 2, Beck Motors Camping Crew,Bottom Line Welding, Burnt Offerins, Chase Auto, Cowboy Country Store, Dakota Prairie Bank, Dakota Mill & Grain, Fine Line Auto , First National Bank, Ft Pierre Fire Dept, Graham Tire, Grossenburg Implement, Inman’s Water, Prairie ATV, Prairie Traders, Sioux Nation, WW Tire, Zander Auto Place, Zay Norman Ranches.
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. 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.
Latest News
Fort Pierre, SD C&NW Train Depot Story Part 1
This is part one of three in a series of articles written by Gary Grittner and published in the Northwestern Lines National Magazine, 2018 Fort Pierre Pt. 1-depot
Historic Bell Dedicated to Fort Pierre
Another piece of history was added to Fort Pierre on July 4th, 2019. A large school bell weighing in at more than 800 pounds was permanently placed beside the Sansarc School Museum, located behind the log cabin on the corner of Hwy 1804/1st Street and Main Street in...
Verendrye Museum Backyard BBQ Competition Sat., August 17, 2019
The 3rd Annual Backyard BBQ Competition will be held Saturday, August 17, 2019 at Fischer’s Lilly Park, Fort Pierre, SD. Proceeds from this Home Town Event benefit the Verendrye Museum Renovation. This is one of many events happening during Fort Pierre Trader Days!...
Historic Bell to be Unveiled in Fort Pierre
Fort Pierre has always been full of rich history and one more piece of historic culture will be added on July 4th, 2019. Immediately after the 4th of July parade, Fort Pierre will dedicate the almost century-old country school bell. The bell was previously at the...