Founded in 1881, it was the first institution of higher learning in theDakota Territory. The man primarily responsible for the college's establishment wasJoseph Ward, a local pastor and educator who is one of the two South Dakotans represented in theNational Statuary Hall.
Yankton College closed in December 1984, and its campus became the site ofFederal Prison Camp, Yankton, which opened four years later.[4][5]
The campus was declared the Yankton College Historic District in 1982 due to the presence of a group of buildings designed by architectGeorge Grant Elmslie. Between 1927 and 1932, Elmslie designed seven structures for the college, of which several were built:[6]
Campus Library (1927/1928)
Forbes Hall of Science (1929)
Look Chapel, project (1929)
Power plant (1930)
Look Dormitory for Men (1931)
Conservatory of Music (1932)
Gymnasium, project (1932)
The college's athletic teams were known as the Greyhounds. The football stadium (Crane–Youngworth Field) is now used as the home field for theYankton High School Bucks andMount Marty University Lancers football teams.
Yankton College began football in 1894. In 1917 they became one of the charter members of theSouth Dakota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference. From 1960 to 1980 Yankton competed in theTri-State Conference with private schools in Iowa and Nebraska. Yankton returned to the SDIAC in 1981, remaining until the school closed. The most successful seasons were as members of the Tri-State.
