Fort Sisseton Historic State Park

11/02/2026

We have some big news to celebrate here at the fort!

Our very own Park Manager, Ali Jo Tonsfeldt, has officially stepped into the role of Board President for the Glacial Lakes & Prairies Tourism Association!

Following a wonderful tenure by past president Val Rausch, Ali Jo took the gavel at the association's recent annual meeting.
We are incredibly proud to have our park's leadership helping to guide and promote tourism across the beautiful 20 counties of Northeast South Dakota. Ali Jo’s passion for our region's history, parks, and hidden gems is unmatched, and we know she will bring that same dedication to her new role!

Please join us in sending a huge congratulations to Ali Jo!

A moment of gratitude and transition for Glacial Lakes and Prairies Tourism Association.

At our last meeting, we honored our past president, Val Rausch of Abbey of the Hills in Marvin. Val has been a dedicated part of our organization for many years, and we are so appreciative of his history, knowledge, and leadership.

He officially turned over the gavel to our current board president, Ali Jo Tonsfeldt of Fort Sisseton State Park in Lake City.

We are so grateful for leaders like Val and Ali who give their time and passion to this region. We are excited for our future and thankful for the strong foundation that carries us forward.

Thank you, Val! And welcome, Ali Jo!

10/22/2026

Governor Larry Rhoden recently spent time exploring South Dakota’s rich history with a visit to Fort Sisseton Historic State Park!

Preserving these historic landmarks ensures their stories live on for generations to come. From touring the grounds to celebrating our state's past, it's a great reminder of what makes South Dakota so special.

10/17/2026

The costumes are on and the scarers are ready to scare ya tonight and tomorrow night from 7pm to 11pm here at fort Sisseton! Make sure you are in line by 1045!!!

10/14/2026

Huge shoutout to the library crew for allowing our Park Manager to escape her post tonight!

She told us she was heading over to teach "Wit & Wisdom from the Founding Fathers," but let's be honest, she just needed an alibi to get away from the daily madness here at Fort Sisseton. We’ve never seen someone sprint to a library so fast.

Honestly, we think Ben Franklin and George Washington would highly approve of abandoning your modern day emails and paperwork to go talk about them instead.

We're so glad she got to share some historic brainpower with you all tonight, and even gladder that she got a few hours of absolute peace and quiet away from us. Thanks for being awesome hosts!