Verendrye Site, Archaeological site in Fort Pierre, United States
The Verendrye Site is an archaeological location on a hilltop overlooking the Missouri River, marked by a granite monument and three flags. This is where French explorers once buried a lead plate to claim the territory for their nation.
In 1743, French explorers Louis-Joseph and François Gaultier de La Vérendrye buried a lead plate here as a territorial claim. The plate bore Latin inscriptions referencing the French king and represented early Western expansion into the region.
A lead plate with Latin inscriptions was buried here to mark French sovereignty over the land. The monument and flags visible today help visitors understand this early European connection to the region.
The site is accessible via a paved road from Verendrye Drive with parking available near the monument. The hilltop location offers open views, so visitors should be prepared for weather exposure and wear comfortable shoes.
The original lead plate was discovered by students in 1913 on the eroding hillside and is now stored at the South Dakota Cultural Heritage Center. This chance find preserved a physical record that might otherwise have vanished forever.
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