[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 157 (2011), Part 6]
[Senate]
[Pages 8217-8218]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                         YANKTON, SOUTH DAKOTA

 Mr. JOHNSON of South Dakota. Mr. President, today I recognize 
the 150th anniversary of the founding of one of South Dakota's great 
cities, Yankton. Located along the Missouri River, Yankton serves as 
the county seat of Yankton County and is a source of great history.
  Yankton, founded in 1861 and incorporated on May 8, 1862, was the 
original capital of Dakota Territory. The founders of Yankton derived 
the city's name from the Sioux expression E-hank-ton-wan, which means 
``people of the end village.'' Yankton College, founded in 1881, was 
the first liberal arts college in Dakota Territory, providing the 
community with rich opportunities through higher education, continued 
today through Mount Marty College.
  Riverboat Days and the Summer Arts Festival are held every August in 
Yankton and bring visitors from all over the state to enjoy the scenic 
beauty and relaxing atmosphere the city has to offer. Yankton is an 
outdoor enthusiast's dream, offering access to hunting, fishing, 
golfing, parks, hiking trails, kayaking and canoeing, and other water 
recreation sports. The Gavins Point Dam makes the city's water 
recreation possible along with providing hydroelectric power. Yankton 
is home to the Dakota Territorial museum, which provides a glimpse of 
the rich history of the Dakota Territory and the events that shaped the 
Midwest itself. Yankton is

[[Page 8218]]

also the hometown of perhaps South Dakota's most famous resident, Tom 
Brokaw, former anchor of the NBC Nightly News, a graduate from Yankton 
High School.
  Yankton is celebrating its sesquicentennial with a variety of artists 
playing a diverse selection of music. This three day concert event will 
honor the people that have made Yankton their home, from the first 
rugged settlers to the children of today.
  Yankton continues to be a vibrant community and a great asset to 
South Dakota. Yankton boasts a thriving economy, various tourist 
destinations, and tremendous opportunities for outdoor recreation. I am 
pleased to recognize the achievements of Yankton, and to offer my 
congratulations to the residents of the city on this historic 
milestone.

                          ____________________