Exhibits
Native American tribes and western trail blazers. Pioneers and politicians. Military men and gold miners. Wild West legends and legendary homesteaders. All called South Dakota home at one time. Discover our state’s rich cultural heritage at the Museum of the South Dakota State Historical Society.

The Museum explores the social, political, and cultural history of South Dakota and Dakota Territory. The 15,000-square-foot museum gallery features:
• artifacts from the Museum Collection
• historic photographs from the State Archives
• full-scale dioramas
• interactive displays

The Museum features The South Dakota Experience, three museum galleries that illustrate the history of the state from its earliest inhabitants to present day. Discover the rich culture of the Dakota, Lakota and Nakota Indian tribes. Experience the stories of the explorers, trappers, settlers, miners, and statesmen who helped establish South Dakota. Examine the changes and challenges that South Dakotans experienced in the 20th century.

NEW EXHIBIT NOW OPEN
Our South Dakota: Big Land / Big Ideas / Big Heart
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.

View a slideshow of highlights from OUR SOUTH DAKOTA

Our South Dakota: Big Land / Big Ideas / Big Heart was featured on City Limits, a program produced by Oahe TV. View this program by clicking this link.

The museum galleries also feature temporary and traveling exhibitions.