Fort Meade was a military post from 1878 until 1944. Originally established to protect miners and settlers traveling in the area, it played a major role in maintaining peace on the western Dakota frontier. Today, the Old Fort Meade Museum, on the grounds of the Veterans Administration Hospital just east of Sturgis, is located in the former commanding officer’s headquarters and offers an in-depth history of Fort Meade. The museum is open 9 a.m.-5 p.m., daily, May through September.
