Long before statehood, river forts and trading posts shaped the map of Dakota Territory. To understand South Dakota is to sit with the heritage of the people who shaped it.

Steamboats carried goods and settlers up the Missouri to frontier posts.

What sets it apart

Fur trading first drew Europeans deep into the region in the early 1800s. That detail is easy to overlook, but it helps explain the pull this place has on locals and visitors alike.

Fort sites along the river now serve as parks and interpretive centers.

Why it matters

In the end, the story here is really a story about the northern plains and the people drawn to them. It is a heritage still very much alive in the communities and gatherings of today's South Dakota.