South Dakota residents and visitors alike are able to better acquaint themselves with Native American culture at the Buffalo Interpretive Center. The Center is operated by the Lower Brule Sioux Tribe and is located seven miles southeast of Fort Pierre on S.D. Highway 1806 – which is also a part of the Native American Scenic Byway.

Visitors to the Buffalo Interpretive Center have the opportunity to learn about the importance of the bison to Native American culture from a variety of educational exhibits, and to view a herd of bison from the large windows of the Center.

The Center houses a great collection of educational programming, such as hands-on exhibits and interpretive videos, as well as a gift shop that offers products created by Native American artists. Occasionally, there are artists’ demonstrations of the techniques used to create their arts and crafts.

The herd of bison dwells on 6,200 acres of land owned by the Lower Brule Sioux Tribe. Occasionally visitors are able to see them from the windows inside the Center. Tours of the pasture are also offered by the facility.

Since opening in 2004, the Buffalo Interpretive Center strives to “further cross-cultural understanding by teaching the story of the buffalo, its importance and significance to Native American culture, and its relationship to the people of the Lower Brule Tribe.” For a small admission fee, visitors are welcome to take part in this educational and cultural opportunity.

The Center is open year-round on weekdays, weather permitting. Visitors are encouraged to call the Center at 605-223-2260 or 888-323-2260 for current hours of operations.

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 Dakota that 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.

There is a Great Place in South Dakota that is located north of the Pierre and Fort Pierre communities. It creates the fourth largest artificial reservoir in the United States and one of the largest earth-rolled dams in the world. It’s the Oahe Dam. 

Lake Oahe extends 231 miles from Pierre to Bismarck, N.D. Along Lake Oahe are 51 recreation areas which offer camping, picnicking, fishing, hunting, skiing, boating, birding, hiking, biking and other activities. Walleye, smallmouth bass, white bass, northern pike and perch are all common catches for anglers fishing on Lake Oahe. 

Not only does the Oahe Dam provide great recreation along Lake Oahe, but it also supplies irrigation, conservation, and electric power to many Midwestern states. 

The Missouri River today is much different than the muddy, winding waterway that Meriwether Lewis and William Clark once traveled some 200 years ago. Today, four massive dams, completed in the early 1960s, mitigated the river and created more than 900 miles of open water and 3,000 miles of shoreline. In addition, the dams have created a world-class freshwater fishery. 

The Oahe Dam was authorized in 1944 by the Flood Control Act. Work began on the dam in 1948 by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. By 1962, the Oahe Dam was functioning and producing hydoelectic power. The dam was dedicated on August 17, 1962, by President John F. Kennedy.

Visitors can view the Oahe Dam and Lake Oahe by following Highway 1804 seven miles north of Pierre. The Oahe Dam Visitor Center provides a complete history of Lake Oahe and the surrounding area. Exhibits feature the history of the construction of the dam and power plant and the natural history of Lake Oahe and the Missouri River. 

The Oahe Dam Visitor Center, located above the dam, is open year-round with summer hours 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., and winter hours 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. The Visitor Center features interactive displays and information about the Oahe Dam and the Missouri River. Tours of the power plant are available. Visitors can also tour the Oahe Chapel which was built in 1877, and relocated to its current location in 1964, after the dam was built. For more information call 888-386-4617 or go to http://www.sdgreatlakes.org/thelakes/lakeoahe/.

Fort Pierre is the oldest continuous white settlement in South Dakota, located at the mouth of the Bad River. It was named after American fur trader Pierre Choteau Jr. of St. Louis, Missouri.