Fort Pierre Chouteau

Fort Pierre Chouteau is an archaeological site and National Historic Landmark containing underground remains of a large trading post along the Missouri River. The marked location preserves foundation outlines and artifact layers that document decades of active commerce and occupation.

The American Fur Company built the fort in 1832 as a successor to Fort Tecumseh, making it the largest trading center on the upper Missouri. The site remained active for about 25 years before being abandoned in 1857.

The site drew Lakota Sioux and other tribes who came to exchange buffalo robes and furs for European goods. These trading relationships shaped the economic life and daily interactions across the entire region.

The site is clearly marked and can be visited without entry fees, with underground structures remaining visible from above. Learning about the archaeology beforehand helps visitors better understand what the preserved features reveal about the fort's past.

The fort processed around 17,000 buffalo robes per year at its peak, making it a central hub in the North American fur trade. This volume reveals the enormous economic importance of the trading operation across the entire region.

Location: South Dakota

GPS coordinates: 44.38920,-100.39100

Latest update: December 14, 2025 12:26