This is a new story of South Dakota's past--a fresh telling of South Dakota's always interesting, often colorful, and yet sometimes painful history. The first full-scale interpretation of the state's history in more than forty years. A New South Dakota History emphasizes the geographic and cultural diversity of the nation's fortieth state. Acknowledging rather than igonoring the problems of the past, this history offers new and varied perspectives on the state and, in so doing, provides a foundation for a better understanding of the issues facing South Dakota now and in the near future. This history also celebrates the achievements of the state in such areas as agriculture, urbanization, communications, tourism, and the arts. Featuring essays by nationally recognized authors as well as full-length chapters by noted scholars, this 650-page history is intended for general readers, college students, and teachers of South Dakota history. The text is illustrated with over 100 photographs and includes chapter chronologies, notes, a selective readings list, and an index. Beginning with an essay on Sioux understanding of the land, this history moves to chapters on geography, early Native peoples, the fur trade and exploration, Missouri River culture, Native Americans in Dakota Territory, Yankee and European immigration, cities and towns, territorial and statehood politics, farming and ranching, the Black Hills religious institutions, the literary, visual, and performing arts, health care, communication technologies, transportation and tourism, modern tribes, and the challenges and opportunities facing South Dakota in the twenty-first century. Along the way are essays on the African American experience, small towns, women writers, and the traditional Sioux family today. This is the story of a new South Dakota.