This online calendar of events emphasizes educational, archaeological, preservation, and history related programs throughout the year across South Dakota. Green entries denote activities at the Cultural Heritage Center in Pierre. Blue entries denote off-site activities sponsored by the SD State Historical Society and/or the Heritage Fund. If you would like to submit an event to be included on the calendar, please complete and submit the following form: Events form, PDF or Events form, Word.

October 2012

Event: OUR SOUTH DAKOTA: BIG LAND | BIG IDEAS | BIG HEART Exhibit
Description: The exhibit examines the physical and mental landscapes of South Dakota, past and present. Explore the physical realities of our state and how these realities shape our attitudes and the communities we form. And, have a great time doing it! Come and measure yourself against a full-size replica of Washington’s nose from Mount Rushmore, see how many South Dakotas fit across the entire U.S., try your hand at typing on a manual typewriter. Come and experience Our South Dakota!
Location:  Cultural Heritage Center, Hogen Gallery, 900 Governors Dr., Pierre
Time: Mon.-Sat. 9 a.m. - 4:30 p.m., Sun. & Holidays* 1-4:30 p.m. CT
Admission:  Members free; Adults $4, Seniors $3, 17 & under free (Free to all on the 1st Sunday of every month)
Sponsor: South Dakota State Historical Society
Contact: 605-773-3458
* The Cultural Heritage Center is closed on New Year's Day, Easter, Thanksgiving, and Christmas.

Event: Deadwood Grant deadline - SD State Historic Preservation Office
Description: This program is designed to encourage large-scale restoration or rehabilitation of historic properties by individuals, organizations or public agencies. Grants for work beginning approximately January 1, 2013* will be awarded in amounts ranging from $1,000 to $25,000. The grant amount must be matched on a dollar-for-dollar basis from nonfederal and nonstate sources. Nonprofit organizations will be allowed to use in-kind services for one-half of their match. Funding for the program is from Deadwood gaming revenue earmarked by state law for historic preservation projects throughout the state and distributed by the State Historical Society. *Projects may not start until after official notification of the grant award is received.
Application: Click here for forms.
Date: October 1, 2012
Contact: Northeast SD - Jennifer (e-mail), 605-773-2906; Southeast SD - Liz (e-mail), 605-773-6056; Western SD - Chris (e-mail), 605-773-3103 (see Regional map)

Event: "Romanticism of the West: Touching our Roots" - 20th Annual West River History Conference
Description: Guest speakers, special entertainment & displays, presentation of papers, book signings, and selected rare booksellers booths will be a part of the weekend of historical activity focused on the heritage of the region.
Location: Hilton Garden Inn, 815 E. Mall Dr., Rapid City
Date/Time: October 4-6, 2012
Registration:
   Full Conference, pre-registration $tba ($tba at the door)
   Friday only, pre-registration $tba ($tba at the door)
   Student/Accompanying Adult (1 day) $tba
   Thursday Evening or Saturday Morning, pre-registration $tba ($tba at the door)
Meals not included in registration fee:
   Friday lunch - $tba, Friday banquet - $tba, Saturday breakfast - $tba
Sponsor: South Dakota Humanities Council, an affiliate of the National Endowment for the Humanities, the Deadwood Historic Preservation Commission, the Black Hills Corral of Westerners, International, the Society of Black Hills Pioneers, and Dode Lee
Contact: West River History Conference (e-mail or web), 605-343-4852

Event: SD State Archives Open
Description: The State Archives is open every 1st Saturday of the month. Staff will be available to assist with research. The State Archives manages a collection of photographs, films, maps, books, newspapers, state and county records, as well as personal and organizational records.
Location:  Cultural Heritage Center, 900 Governors Dr., Pierre
Date/Time: October 6, 2012; 9 a.m to 4:30 p.m. CT
Admission:  Free
Sponsor: South Dakota State Historical Society
Contact: Archives (e-mail or web), 605-773-3804

Event: Free admittance to the Museum of the SD State Historical Society
Description: Admittance to the museum is free the 1st Sunday of the month. The Museum has 15,000 square feet of exhibition space with exhibits divided into five galleries.
Location: Cultural Heritage Center, 900 Governors Dr., Pierre
Date/Time: October 7, 2012; 1- 4:30 p.m. CT
Admission:  Free
Sponsor: South Dakota State Historical Society
Contact: 605-773-3458

Event: 70th Plains Anthropological Conference
Description: The 70th Annual Plains Anthropological Conference will have topics addressing Plains anthropological, historical, archaeological, and related subjects. Undergraduate and graduate student participation is encouraged. Listen to an amazing array of papers following the research of students, professionals, and avocational archaeologists.
Location: to be announced
Date/Time: October , 2012
Registration: to be announced
Sponsor: to be announced
Contact: to be announced

Event: Title to be announced - History & Heritage Book Club
Description: Program to be announced.
Location:  Cultural Heritage Center, 900 Governors Dr., Pierre
Date/Time: October 9, 2012; 7 p.m. CT
Admission: Free
Sponsor: South Dakota State Historical Society & South Dakota Historical Society Foundation
Contact: Dorinda Daniel 605-773-6006, dorinda.daniel@state.sd.us
Additional Comments: The book club meets the 2nd Tuesday of every month at the Cultural Heritage Center. Occasionally the date, time, or location my change for a special program. All books are available for purchase at the Heritage Store located in the Cultural Heritage Center and at the Capitol. The History & Heritage Book Club is open to everyone. People who want to join the discussion by telephone are welcome to do so by making arrangements in advance with Dorinda (see above).

Event: Program to be announced - Preservation Wednesday
Description: To be announced. The public is encouraged to attend.
Location: Vermillion Public Library, 18 Church St., Vermillion
Date/Time: October 17, 2012; 7 p.m. CT
Admission: Free
Sponsor: Clay County Historic Preservation Commission
Contact: Jim Wilson (e-mail or web), 605-624-4579
Additional Comments: Preservation Wednesdays are held every 3rd Wednesday of the month September through May.

Event: 20th Annual Island in the Plains - Black Hills Archaeological & Historical Symposium
Description: The Annual Island in the Plains conference attracts speakers from a wide range of disciplines concerned with the environmental and cultural history of the Black Hills. Researchers, interested members of the public, teachers, and students are all encouraged to attend. Symposium presentations are shceduled for all day Saturday. The banquet will be Saturday evening with keynote speaker to be announced. Field trips will be scheduled for Sunday morning.
Location: to be announced (tba)
Date/Time: October , 2012; Times tba
Registration: tba
Sponsor: South Dakota Archaeological Society, Black Hills National Forest, Bureau of Land Management, South Dakota State Historical Society-Archaeological Research Center, South Dakota Association of Professional Archaeologists
Contact: Mike Fosha, 605-394-1903

Event: National Preservation Conference 2012: Beyond Boundaries
Description: Come to Spokane to bridge chasms, break tradition, and explore what going beyond boundaries can do to move preservation deeper into the consciousness of Americans of all ages, backgrounds, and outlooks. Discover and explore preservation’s role in cities, towns, and rural communities. Let’s talk about what confines us in our work and our mission, and how we can expand the role of preservation in revitalizing cities, combating sprawl, creating jobs, saving energy, preserving landscapes and building community. How can we better partner and work with traditional and new partners to increase preservation’s relevance in modern communities? How do we become better advocates for the movement in our hometowns?
Location: Spokane Convention Center, 334 W. Spokane Falls Blvd., Spokane, WA
Date: October 31 - November 3, 2012
Registration: see website
Sponsor: City of Spokane, Spokane Preservation Advocates, National Trust for Historic Preservation, National Alliance of Preservation Commissions, National Conference of State Historic Preservation Officers
Contact: e-mail, web, 202-588-6100


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