Dakota Territorial Museum

Get a glimpse of life in Yankton, South Dakota, back in the Dakota Territory days when it was a thriving river town. Here at the Dakota Territorial Museum, memorabilia includes pioneer and Sioux Indian artifacts, along with photos and artwork tracing the town’s history. Among items of interest are detailed steamboat models and musical instruments belonging to a member of General George Custer’s band. Elsewhere on the museum grounds, see a restored one-room schoolhouse, a blacksmith shop, a log cabin, an 1892 Great Northern Railroad passenger depot, and a caboose. Anglers and boaters will enjoy an extensive collection of fishing tackle and outboard motors. Hit the water in the town’s many lakes with or without a fishing pole; visitors can stay afloat by boat, kayak or canoe. And there are plenty of trails around for hikers and bikers. The museum is operated by the Yankton County Historical Society.