The South Dakota Experience Galleries
Oyate Tawicoh’an [O-ya-ta Ta-wi-cho-han]
The Ways of the People
In the language of the Oceti Sakowin, the nation some call the Sioux, Oyate Tawicoh'an means The Ways of the People. Learn about the history, values and beliefs of the Dakota, Nakota, and Lakota.

View a slideshow of highlights from Oyate Tawicoh'an

Proving Up
Proving Up explores the state’s history from the placing of the Verendrye Plate in 1743 to the final fight for the state capital in 1904. Share the adventures of explorers, trappers, settlers, miners, and statesmen that established South Dakota.

View a slideshow of highlights from Proving Up

Changing Times - South Dakota in the 20th Century
Examine the changes and challenges South Dakotans experienced during the 20th century. The state flourished when rail lines and automobiles rolled in and struggled when the Depression hit. Throughout the 1900’s some settlers left, but most dug, rooted in this place, and grew to love it.

View a slideshow of highlights from Changing Times

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.

Observation Gallery
Upstairs from the main gallery our Observation Gallery features a fantastic view of the State Capitol Building and the Missouri River bluffs. The gallery also features the Governor's Awards for History, the South Dakota Arts Council Awards, and the exhibit No Life Without It: South Dakota Water.

View a slideshow of highlights from our Observation Gallery

Governor’s Award winners in History and Art

Featured Exhibit
No Life Without It: South Dakota Water
See how South Dakotans have used this vital state resource in the past and how water in the state is used today. This exhibit focuses on South Dakota’s water resources – from ground water, rivers, and lakes to municipal water towers. The various uses for the Missouri River from early travel and trade to modern hydro-electric power and recreation are explored. Angostura Dam and its popular warm-water reservoir are also discussed.

Click the exhibit title to view a pdf of this exhibition.

Missouri River Flood 2011
In late May, Governor Dennis Daugaard warned residents of South Dakota along the downstream areas of the Missouri River (south of the Oahe Dam) to be prepared for rising water levels over the next few days, weeks and possibly months. This slide show documents the flooding in Pierre (State Capital) and Ft. Pierre through mid-June. This photo slide show is currently on display in the Museum's Observation Gallery. The photographs were taken by Curator of Collections, Dan Brosz, and Curator of Exhibits, Kate Vandel.

The Society is looking to add materials from the current flooding in South Dakota to the museum and archives' collections. If you, or anyone you know in Dakota Dunes, Yankton, Pierre, Ft. Pierre, or anywhere else along the Missouri has flood related objects, photos, videos, or stories, please contact the South Dakota State Historical Society.

Recent Donations Display
Cultural Heritage Center Lobby

The museum houses a diverse collection of materials relating to the history and culture of South Dakota, and numbers over 29,000 objects, documenting the breadth of the South Dakota experience. Four times a year, the Curator of Collections selects and displays objects recently donated to the museum collection.

View a slideshow of highlights from recent museum donations

Temporary Exhibitions
A series of changing exhibits on themes in South Dakota history and culture on exhibit in our galleries and display cases.

On display in the stairwell leading to the Observation Gallery

A collection photographs and artifacts related to South Dakota's dairy industry are now on display.

Dakota Territory documents from the National Archives
On display in the entrance to the Museum Galleries

A selection of Dakota Territory documents from the United States National Archives and Records Administration are on display at the South Dakota Cultural Heritage Center.

The display includes an oversized reproduction of the appointment of Dakota Territory’s first Governor, William Jayne, signed by President Abraham Lincoln on March 27, 1861. Also on exhibit are letters regarding the Congressional Session of 1870 and Territorial Governor John A. Burbank’s letter to Secretary of the Interior J. D. Cox, with a response from Secretary of State Hamilton Fish.

The display will be up through the end of the year. 

Bottoms Up! Beer in South Dakota
On display in the entrance to the Museum Galleries

This temporary display looks at the history of beer in South Dakota. The display discusses such topics as South Dakota breweries, prohibition, and even the Sturgis Motorcycle Rally. Visit the Museum's Flickr Page for a brief history of beer and to view images of this display.

Lewis and Clark in South Dakota
On display in the Education Room
The exhibition discusses the animals, plants, and people that the Corps of Discovery encountered in what would one day be South Dakota.