The Sioux Falls area is included in the northeast edge of a much larger area shown as a reduced Trapping Area for the period 1812-1819. No fur trade posts are recorded in the immediate area. One of the nearest posts is the Missouri Fur Company Cedar Island Post (constructed in 1809), near the mouth of the White River. Three later American Fur Company posts (1826-1840) were the Big Sioux Post, near the mouth of the Big Sioux River; the Vermillion Post, near the mouth of the James River; and the James River Post, a temporary post of the James River at a point east of the mouth of the Cheyenne River.
Trade axe
Bronze pipe hatchet
A few reported artifacts from the Sioux Falls area may evidence the fur trade in the region. The bronze pipe hatchet was reportedly found 0.5 mile north of the State Penitentiary in the early 1900's. The trade axe was reportedly found east of Sioux Falls.
Some other items of interest reportedly found in the Sioux Falls region are shown below:
Trapper or Pioneer knife
1860 44 cal Colt, found along the Sioux River near Klondike.
1858 44 cal Remington with sawn off barrel, found near Devil's Gulch, Garrison, SD
Fort Dakota
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