Town of the Week

Town of the Week: Yankton, South Dakota
July 17, 1999

Historic Victorian homes line the rolling green hills and bluffs overlooking South Dakota's finest marina. Welcome to Yankton, the original capitol of the Dakota Territory. This was a Missouri River trading post in 1859 when it was declared the capitol city. Those early days are recaptured in displays found in the Dakota Territorial Museum, an exact replica of the original capitol building.

Yankton's skyline is dominated by a unique double-decker Meridian bridge across the river. Some of the finest and most historic private homes in the Midwest can be seen in a walking tour, including visiting the Queen Anne-style Cramer Kenyon Heritage Home. Mount Marty College, a Catholic Benedictine school but open to all, is also located in Yankton.

Today, the showplace of Yankton, is the Lewis & Clark Lake, five miles west of town. Celebrating the pair's journey through this area in 1804, the lake is a reservoir above the Gavins Point Dam and is a sailing and boating paradise. Riverboat Days and Summer Arts Festival are celebrated in town the weekend of August 20th, and the Lewis & Clark Festival takes place the following weekend with reenactors located at the Lewis & Clark Visitor Center. This is considered the Mother City of the Dakotas, and our Town of the Week, Yankton, South Dakota.

Come with us to Yankton, South Dakota; just listen in.