Ten million years ago the world's largest reptile, the Mosussavrus Missouriensis, up to 80 feet long and weighing 40 ton roamed this area. Fossilized bones were uncovered while digging at the Fort Randall Dam site along with many other prehistoric species.

In 1856 General W. S. Harney established Old Fort Randall on the banks of the Missouri River below Pickstown. This was the first fort to be built on the Missouri River. The Yankton Sioux tribes and the Calvary now shared this land hoping to maintain peace and safety.

In 1946, President Rosevelt, with the enactment of the Pick Sloan Act, started construction of the town of Pickstown and the Fort Randall Dam. In late 1946 Pickstown was started with completion in 1949 at a cost of $9.5 million. The town was built in four stages. Stage one was building housing and administration; stage two was multi housing units, fire station and shopping center; stage three was dormitory housing, hospital, school, theater and recreational building; and stage four the church with a revolving alter, hotel and twenty-five family homes. This was to accommodate a population of 3,500 - 4,000 people. The Fort Randall Dam was the first to be built in South Dakota on the Missouri River. This brought in workers from all over the United States who were very proud to work here and live here. The Dam was built along with three other dams in South Dakota to protect South Dakota and neighboring states from flooding, it was completed in 1956 at a cost of $200 million and provides electricity to 320,000 homes.

Today much of Pickstown's history has been destroyed or moved away, yet it continues to be a great place to live. We must preserve the memories, buildings, artifacts and things that history gave us; the three remaining buildings, the police and fire station, the church and the Rainbow Room. Please visit the Pickstown Museum. It is a great privilege, honor and pleasure to serve as the Museum Vice-President.

The Museum is open Saturdays 12:30 p.m. to 4:00 p.m.