Click on images to enlarge

The capitol of South Dakota has been in many towns since it's inclusion in Dakota Territory.

	1862 Yankton was elected as the capitol of Dakota Territory
	1883 Because of it's central location, Bismarck (North Dakota) was elected as capitol of Dakota Territory
	1885 A Constitutional Convention for the Territory South of the 46th Parallel was held, and Huron was elected as capitol. The US Congress did not recognize the 1885 Convention, and the capitol remained in Bismarck.
	1889 Statehood is achieved for both North and South Dakota. Pierre was elected as the temporary capitol of South Dakota.
	1890 An election was held for a permanent capitol. Huron, Watertown, and Pierre all campaigned. Pierre won the permanent seat.
	1904 The "Great Capitol Fight." The last of the capitol fights, this time between Pierre and Mitchell. Pierre won again and remained the capitol.

The "Great Capitol Fight" of 1904 was an intense campaign. Newspaper editorials became stronger and more emotional. The large railroad companies became involved: the Chicago, Milwaukee, St. Paul Railroad for Mitchell and the Northwestern Railroad for Pierre. Both companies supplied free tickets to the public to visit as an incentive to vote for their town. In the end, South Dakota's state capitol remained in Pierre.