Washington Pavilion of Arts and Science facts for kids
The Washington Pavilion of Arts and Science is a super cool place in Sioux Falls, South Dakota. It opened in 1999. Inside, you'll find an art gallery, a concert hall, a giant dome theater, and a fun science museum. The building used to be a high school! It's even listed as a special historic place.
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History of the Pavilion Building
Quick facts for kids |
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Washington High School
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 Location in South Dakota
Location in the United States
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| Location | 315 S. Main, Sioux Falls, South Dakota |
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| Area | 1 acre (0.40 ha) |
| Built | 1908 |
| Architect | Joseph Schwartz et al. |
| Architectural style | Classical Revival |
| NRHP reference No. | 86000248 |
| Added to NRHP | February 13, 1986 |
The Washington Pavilion is built inside the old Washington High School building. This school moved to a new location, and the old building was then made into the Pavilion. The building has a special look called "Neoclassical." It was designed by an architect from Sioux Falls named Joseph Schwartz.
Building Materials and Design
The outside of the building is made from large blocks of Sioux Quartzite. This is a pinkish rock found in the area. You can even see it near the falls of the Big Sioux River. A small part of the building's north side is made from a dark rock called corson diabase. This rock was once hot, melted rock (magma) that cooled down and became very hard.
The building is so special that it was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1986. This means it's an important historical site!
What's Inside the Washington Pavilion?
The Washington Pavilion is packed with exciting things to see and do. It has a science center, places for shows, and an art gallery.
Kirby Science Discovery Center
The Kirby Science Discovery Center is a huge, three-floor area. It's full of hands-on science exhibits. You can touch, play, and learn about science in a fun way. It's a great place to explore and discover new things!
Performing Arts Centers
The Pavilion has two special places for shows. Here, you can watch many different performances. These include big Broadway shows, operas, dance performances, and concerts. The South Dakota Symphony also performs here. You might even see smaller theater groups or choirs.
Visual Arts Center
The Visual Arts Center is an art gallery. It has seven different rooms that show changing art exhibits. This means there's always something new to see! One special room, the Egger gallery, shows art from Native American tribes of the Northern Plains.
Art Exhibitions and Programs
The Visual Arts Center shows art from local artists, artists from the region, and even famous artists from all over the country. They have shown works by well-known artists like Rodin, Andy Warhol, Ansel Adams, and Toulouse-Lautrec. You can also join in fun activities like watching movies, listening to talks, or taking art workshops.
The Visual Arts Center is free to visit on Tuesdays, Saturday mornings, and on the first Friday evening of every month. At other times, there is a small fee to enter.
Sweetman Planetarium
The Wells Fargo Cinedome used to be a giant 60-foot dome theater. It showed different films throughout the year. In 2023, the Washington Pavilion started making changes to this dome. It is now becoming the Sweetman Planetarium! This will be a cool place to learn about stars and space.
Events and Rentals
Almost every part of the Pavilion can be rented out. People use the spaces for business meetings, weddings, parties, and big conventions.
