The historic army post of Fort Meade helped to shape this city in the early stages of its development, from 1878 to 1944. The original name given to it when it was founded (1878) was Scooptown, because of how many of the residents from Fort Meade had scooped up their living to move to, then, Scooptown.
However, the name later changed in honor of General Samual D. Sturgis, an officer of the Civil War Union who had served as commander of Fort Meade. Sturgis later became the county seat of Meade County in 1889.
This helped it grow to become a commercial and trade center for South Dakota, which until then had been a largely agricultural region. The first annual Sturgis Motorcycle Rally was held in 1938, a tradition that stands until today.
Read on for our list of more fun things to do in Sturgis, South Dakota
The 8 Most Popular Things To Do In Sturgis, South Dakota
8. Black Hills National Cemetery
4.9
(34 reviews)![lossy page1 800px thumbnail.tif 20 Lossy-page1-800px-thumbnail.tif](https://touristwire.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/lossy-page1-800px-thumbnail.tif-20.jpg.webp)
Credit: License, Wikimedia commons
Location: 20901 Pleasant Valley Dr Streeturgis SD
Tel: 605 347 3830
Web Address: http://cem.va.gov/cems/nchp/blackhills.asp
7. Bear Butte
4.5
(43 reviews)![800px Bear Butte State Park2C South Dakota. PNG 800px-bear butte state park%2c south dakota. png](https://touristwire.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/800px-Bear_Butte_State_Park2C_South_Dakota._PNG.jpg.webp)
Credit: Indianertosset, License, Wikimedia commons
6. Ft Meade Recreation Area Park
4.7
(79 reviews)![AF1QipO910cC8kBVaDnvglHS9FsNWce1EOK39pgGvkQw592 h404 n k no Af1qipo910cc8kbvadnvglhs9fsnwce1eok39pggvkq=w592-h404-n-k-no](https://touristwire.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/AF1QipO910cC8kBVaDnvglHS9FsNWce1EOK39pgGvkQw592-h404-n-k-no.jpg.webp)
Credit: Jason Iwen, Google Maps
Location: SD 34 Streeturgis SD
Tel: 605 347 3916
Web Address: http://sturgis-sd.gov/
5. Fort Meade Museum
4.7
(82 reviews)Location: 50 Sheridan Street Fort meade SD
Tel: 605 347 9822
Web Address: http://fortmeademuseum.org/
4. Fort Meade
4.7
(124 reviews)![lossy page1 800px VIEW OF FRONT PICKET FENCE. VIEW TO NORTHEAST. Fort Meade National Cemetery2C Old Stone Road2C Sturgis2C Meade County2C SD HALS SD 3 2.tif Lossy-page1-800px-view of front picket fence. view to northeast. - fort meade national cemetery%2c old stone road%2c sturgis%2c meade county%2c sd hals sd-3-2.tif](https://touristwire.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/lossy-page1-800px-VIEW_OF_FRONT_PICKET_FENCE._VIEW_TO_NORTHEAST._-_Fort_Meade_National_Cemetery2C_Old_Stone_Road2C_Sturgis2C_Meade_County2C_SD_HALS_SD-3-2.tif.jpg.webp)
Credit: License, Wikimedia commons
Location: Southwest Meade SD
Tel: 605 347 9822
Web Address: http://fortmeademuseum.org/
3. Saab Heritage Car Museum USA – Sturgis Car Museum
4.8
(187 reviews)Location: 940 Dickson Dr Streeturgis SD
Tel: 605 720 6398
Web Address: https://saabmuseumusa.com/
2. Belle Joli Winery Sparkling House
4.9
(199 reviews)![AF1QipPqUBj7lptViN19Gm 1HogHrujusPW Eeyp25Qpw592 h404 n k no Af1qippqubj7lptvin19gm 1hoghrujuspw-eeyp25qp=w592-h404-n-k-no](https://touristwire.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/AF1QipPqUBj7lptViN19Gm_1HogHrujusPW-Eeyp25Qpw592-h404-n-k-no.jpg.webp)
Credit: Belle Joli Winery Sparkling House, Google Maps
Location: 3951 Vanocker Canyon Road Streeturgis SD
Tel: 605 347 9463
Web Address: http://bellejoli.com/
1. Sturgis Motorcycle Museum & Hall of Fame
4.7
(1,317 reviews)![AF1QipPBedoiHzMoktyJXkkileMAjOyKWOYw7DxbxqI9w592 h404 n k no Af1qippbedoihzmoktyjxkkilemajoykwoyw7dxbxqi9=w592-h404-n-k-no](https://touristwire.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/AF1QipPBedoiHzMoktyJXkkileMAjOyKWOYw7DxbxqI9w592-h404-n-k-no.jpg.webp)
Credit: Victor Garcia, Google Maps
Location: 999 Main Street Streeturgis SD
Tel: 605 347 2001
Web Address: http://sturgismuseum.com/
Final Words:
Thank you for reading our list of the best things to do in Sturgis, South Dakota! We hope it helped you plan the perfect itinerary for your next trip to this fantastic destination. Happy travels!
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