Weather Permitting, the tour boat offers excursions with a tour guide Tuesdays and Sundays, June through August. Private charters and group tours are available for special events. Contact the Pierre Area Chamber of Commerce, 1-800-962-2034, for reservations or for more information.

The river cities are studded with sites and attractions that make the history of the region come alive. From displays celebrating the state’s American Indians to the earliest evidence of European explorers, from mementos of pioneer life to exhibits of contemporary science and technology, this self-guided tour of Pierre and Fort Pierre acquaints you with the area’s history and character. Among its 16 points of interest are sites that Lewis and Clark described in their journals, that commemorate the cities’ frontier days, and that honor men and women who have contributed to South Dakota’s heritage.

The brochure for the self-guided driving tour of historic Pierre and Fort Pierre is available from the Pierre Area Chamber of Commerce.

Pierre Historic Homes Driving Tour

Explore Pierre and learn about its history by taking a self-guided tour of the city’s historic residences. Pierre has over a score of notable homes, dating from the late 1800s through the mid-20th century. Architectural styles span the late Victorian to post-World-War-II Lustron. A number of the structures are on the National Register of Historic Places. Contact the Pierre Area Chamber of Commerce for a self-guided tour brochure.

Visit www.historicpierre.com to view photos and map of Pierre's Historic Homes. 

Lewis and Clark National Historic Trail

The most famous visitors to the Pierre area arrived in the early days of our country’s history: Lewis and Clark and their Corps of Discovery. Today the Lewis and Clark National Historic Trail traces the route of the explorers. Numerous viewing points and interpretive signs tell the story of the expedition’s experiences during the week in late September 1804, when they journeyed up the Missouri River and past the site of present-day Pierre.

The Lewis and Clark Trail is the second longest of the National and Scenic Historic Trails established by the National Park Service. Find information on the Lewis and Clark Trail in the Pierre area in brochures distributed by the Pierre Convention and Tourism Bureau. Click on the Lewis and Clark trail link to see the trail in the local area.

Native American Scenic Byway

The Native American Scenic Byway travels along the banks of the Missouri River, through South Dakota’s mixed-grass prairie and the heart of the great Sioux nation. The 100-mile corridor between Fort Pierre and Chamberlain, to the south, takes you through the Crow Creek and Lower Brule Sioux Indian Reservations, with opportunities to view their unique culture, enjoy the natural beauty of the rugged landscape, and look for bison, elk, pronghorn and prairie dogs roaming the plains.

Cultural, historical and archeological sites tell the story of this land and its people. Visit the locations of pre-Columbian Indian villages, travel to numerous places noted in the diaries of Lewis and Clark, view the plants and animals of the plains and bottomlands, and learn about Indian culture and traditions through contemporary exhibits. The byway is a journey of heart and mind, a road to understanding the Sioux people and feeling the spirit of the land.

For a brochure on a self-guided tour, contact the Pierre Area Chamber of Commerce. Maps and additional information may be found at www.byways.org/browse/byways/2596/