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.

April 2011

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: April 2, 2011; 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: April 3, 2011; 1- 4:30 p.m. CT
Admission:  Free
Sponsor: South Dakota State Historical Society
Contact: 605-773-3458

Event: "South Dakota Works" - Archives Photo Exhibit Opening
Description: A new photo exhibit called "South Dakota Works" features 44 photographs from the State Archives collection. Open through April 26, the exhibit highlights the State Archives Photo Digitization Project. Underway since 2007, over 11,000 images have been digitized and cataloged. Chad Coppess, senior photographer with the Department of Tourism, will give a presentation on the changes in photography, specifically digital photography, in the last 20 years.
Location: Cultural Heritage Center, Hogen Gallery, 900 Governors Dr., Pierre
Date/Time: April 8, 2011; 4-6 p.m. CT; Presentation at 5:15 p.m.
     Exhibit open through April 26
Admission:  Free
Sponsor: South Dakota State Historical Society
Contact: 605-773-3458

Event: Casey Tibbs - Born to Ride by Rusty Richards - History & Heritage Book Club
Description: Book discussion will be held after a tour of the Rodeo Center's museum, which is dedicated to the sport of rodeo in South Dakota. The author is a singer, cowboy, and friend of Tibbs. Tibbs was to rodeo what Babe Ruth was to baseball. Tibbs was rodeo's first super star, a nine time world champion with six saddle bronc titles. He elevated rodeo to a respected sport.
Location:  Casey Tibbs South Dakota Rodeo Center, 210 Verendrye Dr., Ft. Pierre
Date/Time: April 12, 2011; 5:30 p.m. CT
Admission: Free
Sponsor: South Dakota State Historical Society & the South Dakota Heritage Fund
Contact: Dorinda Daniel 605-773-6006, dorinda.daniel@state.sd.us
Additional Comments: The History & Heritage Book Club is open to everyone. The book is available at the Heritage Store at the Cultural Heritage Center and the Capitol, with book club and South Dakota State Historical Society members receiving a discount on book club selections purchased at either Heritage Store. People who want to join the discussion by telephone are welcome to do so by making arrangements in advance with Dorinda (see above).

Event: Augustana College at 150 - Minnehaha County Historical Society Spring Banquet
Description: Rob Oliver, President of Augustana College, will present the program on 150 years of Augustana history. The public is invited to attend.
Location: Old Courthouse Museum, 200 W. 6th St., Sioux Falls
Date/Time: April 14, 2011, Social at 6 p.m. CT, Dinner at 6:30 p.m.
Admission: $12 per person includes dinner & program; RSVP required to Jim Carlson (see contact information below)
Sponsor: Minnehaha County Historical Society
Contact: Jim Carlson (e-mail), 605-366-8403

Event: Tax Credits & Grants - Preservation Wednesday
Description: Paul Porter and Liz Almlie of the South Dakota Historic Preservation Office will be discussing historic preservation tax benefits and grants that are available to the owners of historic buildings. There are buildings in Vermillion that are listed on the National Register of Historic Places individually or as parts of the residential district south of the University, the Forest Avenue Historic District and the Downtown Commercial Historic District. Owners, potential owners and realtors should be aware of these substantial benefits and how to apply for them. The public is encouraged to attend.
Location: Vermillion Public Library, 18 Church St., Vermillion
Date/Time: April 20, 2011; 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: Hump and Crazy Horse - Preservation Thursday
Description: South Dakota Humanities Council Speaker's Bureau Scholar Donovin Sprague will discuss the lives of two Lakota leaders, Hump and Crazy Horse, and their connection to the Black Hills. The public is encouraged to attend.
Location: Deadwood City Hall, 102 Sherman St., Deadwood
Date/Time: April 28, 2011; Noon MT
Admission: Donations welcomed
Sponsor: Deadwood Historic Preservation Commission; Adam-Mastrovich Family Foundation, Mary Adams Balmat; Rapid City Journal; Black Hills Pioneer; Celebrity Hotel; Chubby Chipmunk Hand-Dipped Chocolates; The Historic Bullock Hotel; Saloon No. 10; TDG Communications

Event: 43rd Annual Dakota Conference - The Civil War & The Northern Plains: A Sesquicentennial Observance
Description: A principal goal of this year's conference is to explore how this largely eastern conflict impacted the northern Great Plains. Although only a few battles were ever fought west of the Mississippi River, the Civil War changed the Great Plains. This national conference on the Northern Plains annually examines issues of contemporary significance in their historical and cultural contexts. Approximately 80 presenters from as many as 15 states gather to present papers and participate in panels.
Location: The Center for Western Studies, Augustana College, 2001 S. Summit Ave., Sioux Falls
Date/Time: April 29 & 30, 2011
     April 29 - 9:00 a.m. - 7:30 p.m.
     April 30 - 8:30 a.m. - 2:30 p.m.
Registration: Click here for registration form.
Sponsor: The Center for Western Studies (CWS)
Contact: CWS at 605-274-4007, e-mail or web

May June July August September October November December January February March