List of museums in South Dakota facts for kids

South Dakota is a state full of amazing stories, from ancient dinosaurs to brave pioneers and famous artists! If you love learning new things and exploring, you're in luck. South Dakota has tons of museums where you can discover cool objects, learn about history, science, and art, and even see some incredible natural wonders. These places are perfect for a fun day out with family or friends, offering a peek into the past and present of this unique state.

Exploring South Dakota's Cool Museums

South Dakota's museums are like treasure chests, each holding special items that tell a part of the state's story. Let's explore some of the most exciting ones!

Step Back in Time: History Museums

Many museums in South Dakota focus on the rich history of the area, from early settlers to important events.

Pioneer Life and Old Towns

• The 1881 Courthouse Museum in Custer lets you step into an old courthouse and learn about local history. It's run by the Custer Country Historical Society.
• At the Adams Homestead and Nature Preserve in McCook Lake, you can visit a historic home with old furniture, a barn, a country school, and a church. It's like walking into the past!
• The Austin-Whittemore House in Vermillion is a beautiful late 19th-century house filled with Victorian furniture and items from local history.
• The Brookings County Museum in Volga has an 1870 log cabin, old farm equipment, antique tools, and a one-room country schoolhouse.
• Imagine living in a house made of straw! The Campbell Original Straw Bale Built Museum in Carthage is located in a building made from straw bales, showing a unique part of local history.
• The Cramer Kenyon Heritage Home in Yankton is an 1880s Victorian mansion, perfect for seeing how people lived long ago.
• In Custer, the Four Mile Old West Town is an open-air museum with buildings like a town hall, saloon, general store, and even a sheriff's office. It feels like a real Old West town!
• The Ingalls Homestead in De Smet lets you explore the home of author Laura Ingalls Wilder's family. You can see a dugout house and learn about pioneer activities.
• The Pioneer Auto Show in Murdo isn't just about cars! It also has an authentic prairie town with a railroad depot, bank, general store, and more.
• The Prairie Homestead in Philip shows you a sod dwelling from the early 20th century, just like the homes pioneers built.
• South Dakota's Original 1880 Town in Murdo has over 30 historic buildings filled with artifacts, including a museum dedicated to rodeo star Casey Tibbs.

Native American Culture

• The Akta Lakota Museum in Chamberlain shares the stories of the nomadic Plains Indians. It's a great place to learn about Native American culture.
• The Buechel Memorial Lakota Museum in St. Francis focuses on the history of the Lakota people from the Rosebud Indian Reservation.
• The Buffalo Interpretive Center in Fort Pierre tells the important story of the buffalo and its role in Native American cultures of the Great Plains.
• The Heritage Center of Red Cloud Indian School on the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation showcases Lakota culture and Native art.
• The Oglala Lakota College Historical Center in Kyle also shares the history of the Lakota people.
• The Wounded Knee Museum in Wall teaches visitors about the history of the Wounded Knee Massacre, an important and somber event in Native American history.

Military and Transportation History

• The Armed Forces Military Display and Gifts in Wasta has a private collection of military items from different wars.
• The Civilian Conservation Corps Museum of South Dakota in Hill City tells the story of the CCC, a program that helped many people during the Great Depression.
• The Fort Meade Museum in Sturgis is located in a former commanding officer's house and shares the history of Fort Meade.
• Fort Sisseton Historical Park in Lake City is a state park with preserved fort buildings from 1864.
• The Historic Chicago & Northwestern Railroad Depot in Redfield displays railroad items, model trains, and artifacts.
• The Minuteman Missile National Historic Site in Jackson County includes a visitor center, a launch control center, and a missile silo, showing a part of the Cold War era.
• The South Dakota Air and Space Museum in Box Elder explores the history of the US Air Force and aviation in South Dakota.
• The South Dakota National Guard Museum in Pierre has history and memorabilia from the South Dakota National Guard.
• The South Dakota State Railroad Museum in Hill City is full of railroad memorabilia and model trains.
• The Sturgis Motorcycle Museum & Hall of Fame in Sturgis features vintage and rare motorcycles.

Amazing Animals and Nature

South Dakota has incredible natural beauty, and some museums help you learn all about it.

• Badlands National Park in Interior has a visitor center with exhibits about the geology, paleontology (fossils!), and natural history of the park.
• The Badlands Petrified Garden in Kadoka displays rocks, minerals, and fossils.
• The Black Hills Museum of Natural History in Hill City is home to fossils, dinosaurs, gems, minerals, and meteorites.
• The Mammoth Site in Hot Springs is an active dig site and museum where you can see fossils of mammoths and other ancient animals and plants.
• The Museum of Geology in Rapid City, part of the South Dakota School of Mines and Technology, has fossils and minerals from around the world.
• Petrified Wood Park in Lemmon features sculptures and structures built from petrified wood and fossils.
• Wind Cave National Park in Hot Springs has a visitor center with exhibits about the geology of its famous caves and the park's natural history.

Art, Music, and Unique Collections

If you love art, music, or seeing unusual collections, these museums are for you!

• The Augustana College Art Galleries in Sioux Falls showcase art, including a collection focused on the history and cultures of the Northern Plains.
• The Center for Western Studies in Sioux Falls, also part of Augustana College, has Native American artifacts, a replica Norwegian living room, and art.
• The Dahl Arts Center in Rapid City is a place to see various art exhibits.
• The Granary Rural Cultural Center in Groton is an art center.
• The Museum of Visual Materials in Sioux Falls offers art exhibits, classes, and children's art activities.
• The National Museum of Woodcarving in Custer displays amazing art and sculptures carved from wood.
• The National Music Museum in Vermillion has a huge collection of musical instruments from all over the world and different time periods.
• The Redlin Art Center in Watertown features over 150 works by the famous artist Terry Redlin.
• The South Dakota Art Museum in Brookings, part of South Dakota State University, has collections by artists like Harvey Dunn and Paul Goble, plus Native American cultural artifacts.
• The International Vinegar Museum in Roslyn is a truly unique place, with vinegars from all over the world!
• The Corn Palace in Mitchell celebrates the history of its unique design, construction, and connection to local agriculture.
• The National Presidential Wax Museum in Keystone features wax figures of U.S. presidents in famous moments.
• The Porter Sculpture Park in Montrose is an outdoor park filled with interesting sculptures.
• The Telstar Mustang Shelby Cobra Restorations & Museum in Mitchell is a private collection of beautifully restored Mustangs, Shelby, and Cobra cars.

Fun for Everyone: Kids' Museums and More

Some museums are especially designed for younger visitors or offer a wide variety of things to see.

• The Children's Museum of South Dakota in Brookings is a fantastic place for kids to play and learn through hands-on exhibits.
• The Crazy Horse Memorial in Crazy Horse is a huge sculpture of Crazy Horse carved into a mountain. It also has an Indian Museum of North America and a Native American Cultural Center.
• Custer State Park includes the Peter Norbeck Center, which has natural history and cultural heritage displays.
• The Dakota Discovery Museum in Mitchell combines art, history, and culture, located on the campus of Dakota Wesleyan University.
• The Journey Museum and Gardens in Rapid City has prehistoric and historic collections about the Western Great Plains, including geology, archaeology, Native American culture, and pioneer history.
• Mount Rushmore in Keystone is the famous national memorial with the faces of four U.S. Presidents carved into the mountain. It includes the Lincoln Borglum Museum with films and exhibits about the sculptor Gutzon Borglum and the creation of Mount Rushmore.
• The South Dakota Discovery Center in Pierre is a hands-on science center where you can explore and experiment.
• The Washington Pavilion of Arts and Science in Sioux Falls has both the Kirby Science Discover Center and a Visual Arts Center with galleries. It's a great place for both science and art!

Defunct museums

Some museums that used to be open are now closed.

National Music Museum

• The Delbridge Museum of Natural History in Sioux Falls.
• McCook County Museum in Salem.
• Performance Auto Museum, which had locations in Sioux Falls and Deadwood.
• Soukup and Thomas International Balloon and Airship Museum in Mitchell, which closed in 2000.

See also

Akta Lakota Museum

• Nature Centers in South Dakota