South Dakota’s Great Places: Fort Sisseton
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Wednesday, September 19, 2012
CONTACT: Wanda Goodman, (605) 773-3301, wanda.goodman@travelsd.com
South Dakota’s Great Places: Fort Sisseton
PIERRE, S.D. – High on the northern plains of South Dakota stands a Great Place waiting to be discovered. Named after the nearby Sisseton Wahpeton Oyate, historic Fort Sisseton is a state park that reveals the past of its area.
This fort on the Coteau des Prairies is originally from the 1860s, a former army outpost called Fort Wadsworth. The natural minerals in the ground made it a logical site. The lime and clay in the ground were useful in the construction of bricks, the nearby lake water was ideal for drinking, and the trees surrounding the area were used for timber and fuel.
The site has been preserved and is a National Historic Landmark and is open to the public. Each June there is an annual celebration, called the Fort Sisseton Historical Festival. Throughout the festival, attendees are entertained with period fiddle music, hoop dancing and music from the Civil War. The military encampment is joined by fur traders, muzzleloaders, and a teepee village. The festival showcases frontier life, colorful costumes, and tall tales from the era.
The state campground also includes a boat ramp, campground and camping cabins, canoe and kayak rentals, a picnic shelter, snowshoe checkout, guided walking tours, a visitor center and more. The visitor center, which houses interpretive displays and a gift shop, is open daily from 10:00 a.m.-6:00 p.m., from Open House Weekend (usually in May) through Labor Day and on weekends in September.
South Dakota’s Great Places weekly press release series is a project of the South Dakota Department of Tourism, designed to highlight places in South Dakotathat are unique to travelers and residents alike. Click on the “South Dakota’s Great Places” link at www.MediaSD.com to access the complete list of articles.
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