125th Birthday Kickoff
Nov 5, 2013
Yanktonians kicked off South Dakota's 125th birthday year with a grand party Saturday night. Re-enactors portrayed historic characters in the downtown streets, and as the sun set the party moved indoors to the Riverfront Event Center where state officials joined 500 fellow South Dakotans in a memorable and festive evening. Photos by Bernie Hunhoff.
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Teddy Roosevelt (aka Yankton journalist Nathan Johnson) spoke of the virtues of public service. -
A pretty palomino called Molly added a historic, rhythmic sound to the streets of Yankton during the afternoon events. She was driven by Olivet cowboy Robert Sivertsen and Vicki Buum, who decorated the cake for the evening social. Sivertson sells horse-drawn carriages and works for the Mogck's Angus Ranch. -
Captain Grant Marsh (aka Yankton government teacher Doug Haar) told stories of his adventures on the Missouri River. But he was exposed as a charlatan when the real Grant Marsh, a six-month-old baby from Crofton, Neb., came down the street with his folks to say hello. -
Yankton Press & Dakotan Publisher Gary Wood portrayed the role of pioneer publisher George W. Kingsbury. Joining Wood in period clothing were his wife, DeDe and their daughter, Rachel. -
Russ and Suzanne Leonard greeted visitors as George and Libbie Custer, thanking the community for its hospitality during his 1873 visit to the city when a blizzard threatened his Seventh Cavalry. -
Mike Schumacher played the role of South Dakota's first governor, Arthur Mellette. Schumacher also joined in the evening festivities, where he good-naturedly thwarted the jeers of a North Dakota delegation. -
The Yankton Antique Auto Club brought Model Ts, Model As and a few old Chevrolets to the event. -
Presiding over the state's quasquicentennial event — and the important year to come — are (from left) First Lady Linda Daugaard, Karen Michels and her husband Lt. Gov. Matt Michels, and Governor Dennis Daugaard. -
First graders from Beadle Elementary School sang "Hail South Dakota" and led the packed house at the Riverfront Events Center in a pledge of allegiance. -
The gubernatorial platform featured (from left) Lt. Gov. Matt Michels, Governor Dennis Daugaard and Mike Schumacher, portraying Gov. Arthur Mellette.
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