Fort Sisseton

A Look at the Fort Sisseton Historical Festival

 

Since 1978, cavalry troops and infantry units have converged on the grounds of Fort Sisseton Historic State Park in northeastern South Dakota for the Fort Sisseton Historical Festival each June. Muzzleloaders, riflemen and crack-shots meet amid a tipi encampment with dozens of lodges and traders, historical figures, an art and craft show, melodrama stage show and music from the Civil War.

Riflemen, Fort Sisseton

Frontier Fort Festival
Fort Sisseton

Horsemen at Frontier Fort Festival
Family at Frontier Fort Festival
Fort Sisseton cannon
Frontier Fort Festival
Boys playing instruments at Fort Sisseton

Baking pies at Frontier Fort Festival
Theater at Fort Sisseton
Check Out Our Podcast

The Travel South Dakota Stories

Cavalry reenactors on horseback ride toward the camera with historic buildings in the background at the Fort Sisseton Historical Festival. Fort Sisseton Historic State Park, South Dakota.
Episode 7: Marching Back in Time

As soon as we arrive at Fort Sisseton, we're handed Civil War-era muskets. That's because we've enlisted in the Army — the Union Army! Join us at the Fort Sisseton Historical Festival, where we take part in marching drills, sleep in a haunted hospital and step on toes at the Military Ball, all while learning about the fort's place in American history. 

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