Fort Sisseton Historic State Park

Fort Sisseton Historic State Park is a military site in South Dakota with fourteen original structures remaining from 1864, including stone barracks, officers' quarters, and a powder magazine. The buildings show how a frontier fort was laid out, with living spaces, storage areas, and functional buildings arranged across the grounds.

The fort was established in the 1860s to protect surveyors and settlers moving through Dakota Territory during westward expansion. It served as a military outpost that helped secure civilian movement through the frontier region.

The annual June festival shows military camps and scenes of frontier life, where visitors can observe how people lived during that time. It gives a sense of how daily life unfolded at a military outpost.

The park offers camping sites with and without electrical hookups and rustic cabins that sleep six people. Visitors can hike, fish, and kayak, making a visit enjoyable in different seasons.

The buildings were constructed from local materials: workers made bricks from lime and clay found in the area and used timber from nearby forests. This construction method shows how early settlers had to use available resources to build lasting structures.

Location: Marshall County

Address: 11907 434th Ave, Lake City, SD 57247, USA

Opening Hours: Monday-Friday 10:00-16:00

Phone: +16059104465

Website: http://gfp.sd.gov/state-parks/directory/fort-sisseton

GPS coordinates: 45.65693,-97.53621

Latest update: December 6, 2025 19:03