FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:  Feb. 8, 2008
CONTACT:  Helen B Louise, (605) 773-3798, Helen.Louise@state.sd.us

Fight for capital featured in new exhibit at Capitol

PIERRE, SD -- The museum of the South Dakota State Historical Society has installed a new exhibit in the rotunda of the state Capitol building telling the story of the battle for the location of the state capital city.

The museum created this exhibit to kick off the centennial celebration of the construction of the capitol.

“The story unfolds between 1862 and 1908 and reads like a modern-day spectator sporting event,” said Helen B Louise, museum director. “Selection of a capital city for the Dakota Territory and later for South Dakota is a wild, brawling story.”

Shedding a little blood, and blackening a few eyes, Yankton won the first round, becoming Territorial capital in 1862. Other cities – Vermillion and Bon Homme – went down for the count early.

Yankton held onto the title until a bigger opponent from the north – Bismarck – entered the ring in 1883 and carried away the prize. Bismarck remained the capital until North and South Dakota gained statehood in 1889.

Being chosen state capital was a prize worth the fight. The capital city could look forward to a major influx of people and money. After becoming the temporary capital in 1889, Pierre experienced a major building boom that brought more than $700,000 worth of new construction to the town.

“No one could put a price tag on the prestige being the capital brought,” Louise said.

Public hours of the Capitol building are 8 a.m.-10 p.m. daily. The museum of the State Historical Society is in the Cultural Heritage Center, and the hours are 9 a.m.-4:30 p.m. Monday-Saturday and 1-4:30 p.m. Sundays and most holidays.