America's most isolated capital — a quiet Missouri River city in the heart of the Great Plains
Pierre (pronounced 'Peer') is the capital of South Dakota and the second-smallest US state capital after Montpelier, Vermont. Sitting on the east bank of the Missouri River across from Fort Pierre — the oldest continuously occupied site in South Dakota — it is the quintessential small American capital city, with a handsome domed capitol building and direct access to the Oahe Reservoir, one of the largest man-made lakes in the US. The Badlands and Mount Rushmore are a two-hour drive.