DAY 18 - PIERRE, SD
MAY 31, 2014

We woke up to a rainy day for our tour.  We were split between two buses, but since we are parked in two campgrounds it seemed only natural.  The two buses were at the same places all day, so no-one suffered separation anxiety.  

Our first stop was the South Dakota Heritage Center. We enjoyed a guided tour throughout the center, which was very informative about the past.

 

Great Native American displays.

 



I'm the king of the world!

 

South Dakota has more recent history, as well.

 

We then took our two groups to the State Capitol for a guided tour. One group saw both the Senate and House of Representatives Chambers, while the other group saw only the Senate Chambers.  The Senate Chambers were full of scaffolding because the ceiling was being restored.  We learned how  Pierre became the State Capitol.  We observed all the beautiful marble stairways and scagliola columns, viewed the rotunda and learned the history of the paintings around it. We also heard the legend of the blue tiles and the story of the hearts.



Up at the Rotunda.

 

Looking across the rotunda.



House Chamber.

 

Senate Chamber under construction.

A Blue Tile.

The Broken Heart.

A Flower.

Then we headed to lunch. Some enjoyed a Chinese buffet, and others an Italian grill. Then we went to the Lilly Park where Lewis and Clark met with the Sioux Indians, and to the top of a hill where the French had left a marker in 1745 claiming the area for France.  We had a great guide with us.  There is lots of history at both places.

The Lewis and Clark trip could have ended here.

A little rain can't stop a good guide and a group like ours.

Lead plate left by the French in 1745.

 We had a short stop at the South Dakota Rodeo Center.   One of our bus drivers has a display in the Rodeo Museum.  She won a Women's Rodeo Team trophy by herself.  She performed in each event, as a team of one.  It was a great display and a wonderful story.

Some very famous Cowboys are from South Dakota.

 

Great Cowboy stories.

 

Overlooking the Missouri.

We ended the day by visiting the Oahe Power Plant.  There are no pictures from our tour because they did not allow cameras or cell phones inside the building.

Top Security power plant.



Bob and Kitty