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.

March 2010

Event: "The People's House: Celebrating the Century" Exhibit
Description: This exhibit on the capitol’s 100th anniversary features include a wall-size mural of the capitol’s exterior telling about the building’s architectural elements. The original vault door from the Secretary of State’s Office holds a monitor running capitol construction photos. Artifacts include an original legislator’s desk and the 44-star flag that flew over the first capitol in 1889. Interactive stations let visitors try their hand at constructing a capitol with arches, columns and pediments, and laying a tile pattern with a special blue tile. People can see how well they can identify the capitols of South Dakota’s neighboring states with a matching game.
Location:  Cultural Heritage Center, Hogen Gallery, 900 Governors Dr., Pierre
Date/Time: through 2010, 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 1st Sunday of every month)
Sponsor: South Dakota State Historical Society
Contact: 605-773-3458

Event: South Dakota Capitol Centennial Reception
Description: The public is invited to attend this special reception to commence the celebration of the 100th Anniversary of the Historic South Dakota State Capitol. The event includes hors d'oeuvres, musical entertainment, historical displays, and commemorative remarks by Governor M. Michael Rounds and other dignitaries.
Location: State Capitol Building, 500 E. Capitol Ave., Pierre
Date/Time: March 1, 2010; 5-7 p.m.
Admission: Free
Contact: Mike Mueller (e-mail), 605-773-3688

Event: The Making of "Our Statehouse" Video
Description: Stephanie Rissler of SD Public Broadcasting will give a presentation on the making of the SDPB video "Our Statehouse: A Capitol Idea." This documentary begins with the birth of Dakota Territory and the creation of South Dakota. It follows the fight over the location of the Capital City and explores the process of construction and expansion for the Capitol building. Historic moments, the controversial murals, and the 14-year restoration before the state Centennial in 1989 are all part of the story.
Location: Cultural Heritage Center Education Room, 900 Governors Dr., Pierre
Date/Time: March 2, 2010; 7 p.m. CT
Admission:  Free
Sponsor: South Dakota State Historical Society
Contact: 605-773-3458

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: March 6, 2010; 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: March 7, 2010; 1- 4:30 p.m. CT
Admission:  Free
Sponsor: South Dakota State Historical Society
Contact: 605-773-3458

Event: Small-town Boy, Small-town Girl: Growing Up in South Dakota, 1920-1950 by Eric Fowler & Sheila Delaney - History & Heritage Book Club
Description: This book reveals lively personal accounts of growing up in Milbank & Mitchell. Mitchell native Molly P. Rozum, associate professor of history at Doane College in Crete, Nebraska, edited the book. She will be the featured speaker via phone.
Location:  Cultural Heritage Center, 900 Governors Dr., Pierre
Date/Time: March 9, 2010; 7 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. People who want to join the discussion by telephone are welcome to do so by making arrangements in advance with Dorinda (see above).

Event: Lead, Homestake, and the Sanford Lab - Historical Film Festival
Description: Historical film footage screened in the newly restored roundhouse building featuring area historians who will discuss the locations and eras represented in the films. This month's program is on Lead, Homestake, & the Sanford Lab. Limited seating, reservations recommended, contact the Theater.
Location: Living Map Theater, 106 Glendale Dr., Lead
Date/Time:
March 10, 11, 12, 13, 2010; 7 p.m. MT
March 12, 13, 2010; 2 p.m. MT
Admission: Adults - $16, Seniors (60 & older) - $14, Students (18 & younger) - $12
Sponsor: Living Map Theater
Contact: Living Map Theatre (e-mail or web), 605-717-0296

Event: Archaeology in Clay County - Preservation Wednesday
Description: Bill Ranney with the Clay County Historic Preservation Commission will give a presentation entitled "Archaeology in Clay County". The public is encouraged to attend.
Location: Vermillion Public Library, 18 Church St., Vermillion
Date/Time: March 17, 2010; 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: Dillinger Gang Robs Sioux Falls Bank - Minnehaha County Historical Society monthly meeting
Description: On March 6, 1934, the John Dillinger Gang held up the Northwest Security National Bank at 101 S. Main Avenue, also know as the Security National Bank. The gang escaped with a reported $49,500. After wounding a local policamen, five hostages were forced to ride on the funning board of the get-away car. Hear more from program presenter Emma Abbott, a recent Augustana College graduate and Minnehaha County Historical Society member. This free program is open to the public. Bring a friend.
Location: Old Courthouse Museum, 200 W. 6th St., Sioux Falls
Date/Time: March 18, 2010, 7 p.m. CT
Admission: Free
Sponsor: Minnehaha County Historical Society
Contact: Jim Carlson, 605-366-8403

Event: To Be... Or Not To Be: Historic and Prehistoric Subsistence Skills on the Plains - part of the Third Sunday Archeology Presentation Series
Speaker: Illustrated Lecture by Rick Hamilton, Spirit-in-the-Wind Enterprises, Stuart, NE
Description: Rick Hamilton founded "Spirit in the Wind," a teaching facility dedicated to the preservation and re-discovery of prehistoric and historic Plains Native American skills and cultures. He works with Native Americans and conducts extensive research of archeological records and his own experimental archeology to produce historically accurate replicas as well as the skills of a particular culture. Hamilton will discuss technologies such as bow and arrow fabrication, fire-making, traditional hide-tanning and native plant uses as well as possible future research topics.
Location: Augustana College, Gilbert Science Center Auditorium, 33rd & Summit Ave., Sioux Falls
Date/Time: March 21, 2010, 2 p.m. CT
Admission: free
Sponsor: Augustana College Archeology Lab and Sioux Falls Chapter of the SD Archaeological Society
Contact: Lynette Rossum (e-mail), 605-274-5493

Event: Life During the American Civil War - Preservation Thursday
Description: Lois Beckner, Independent Scholar from Aberdeen, SD, will chronicle the human side of the Civil War, examining ideology, lifestyle and culture in both the North and the South.
Location: Adams Museum, 54 Sherman St., Deadwood
Date/Time: March 25, 2010; Noon MT
Admission: Donations welcomed
Sponsor: Deadwood Historic Preservation Commission, Adams-Mastrovich Family Foundation, Mary Adams Balmat, Rapid City Journal, Black Hills Pioneer, Cadillac Jack's Gaming Resort, Celebrity Hotel, Deadwood Gulch Resort, Four Aces, Saloon No. 10 & the Deadwood Social Club, South Dakota Arts Council, South Dakota Humanities Council, TDG Communications, Trilliant Enterprises
Contact: Adams Museum (e-mail or web), 605-578-1928

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