DSU Archives: History of DSU

Dakota Normal School, 1881-1902

Madison State Normal School, 1902-1921

Eastern State Normal School, 1921-1924

Eastern State Teachers College, 1924-1947

General Beadle State Teachers College, 1947-1964

General Beadle State College, 1964-1969

Dakota State College, 1969-1989

Dakota State University, 1989-Present

              First Dakota State University Building, 1886                          Dakota State University Campus, 2022

Dakota State University is located in the ancestral territory of the Oceti Sakowin, an alliance made up of the Isanti, Ihanktunwan, and Titunwan. Today, these peoples are represented by the nine federally recognized tribes of South Dakota: The Cheyenne River Sioux Tribe, Crow Creek Sioux Tribe, Flandreau Santee Sioux Tribe, Lower Brule Sioux Tribe, Oglala Sioux Tribe, Rosebud Sioux Tribe, Sisseton-Wahpeton Oyate, Standing Rock Sioux Tribe, and the Yankton Sioux Tribe. 

Dakota Normal School at Madison, Dakota Territory was authorized by Territorial Legislature on March 5. The school utilized 20 acres of land donated by Mr. C.B. Kennedy. The deed stipulated if the land were ever used for anything but its original intent (a teacher’s preparation institution) or discontinued, the site would be returned to the Kennedy estate.

Although the school has shifted their primary focus of education to the cyber world, Dakota State remains one of the few universities in the nation who provides students with the technology needed to excel in any career.