Navive American Pow Wow Corn Palace, Mitchell cultural heritage and the arts Southeast South Dakota provides a wide array of cultural and entertainment facilities. As the region’s largest city, Sioux Falls offers a wide variety of historical museums, art galleries and theaters. Take in world-class entertainment including music, dance, opera and Broadway hits at the Washington Pavilion. The South Dakota Shakespeare Festival, held during June in Vermillion, features a professional Shakespeare performance at a classic outdoor theater, new each year. In downtown Sioux Falls, ride the trolley system, designed after streetcars that operated in the early 1900s. Watch for Trolley Stop banners throughout the downtown as well as at Falls Park. Take the trolley from Falls Park to The Washington Pavilion, the region’s home for the arts, entertainment and science. Located in a beautifully renovated historic building in downtown Sioux Falls, it houses a visual arts center, a hands-on science center, a performing arts center and the Wells Fargo CineDome with a 60-foot domed screen. Stop along the way at the Old Courthouse Museum, a grand 1800s quartzite courthouse with three floors of exhibits. Tour the Pettigrew Home and Museum, the beautifully restored 1889 home of South Dakota’s first senator, R.F. Pettigrew. The Center for Western Studies also offers a variety of history and art exhibits. Discover outstanding works of art by Native American and other regional artists at the Carnegie Resource Center in Mitchell, The Washington Pavilion’s Visual Arts Center in Sioux Falls, South Dakota Art Museum in Brookings and museums/galleries throughout the area. Observe a live archaeological dig in progress at Mitchell's Prehistoric Indian Village, and learn about the people who lived here 1,100 years ago. The Center for Western Studies on the Augustana Campus in Sioux Falls, holds an extensive art and artifact collection and sponsors annual events. The Mead Cultural Education Center in Yankton is home to the Dakota Territorial Museum and the Children's Transportation Museum. Explore natural and cultural history at museums in Freeman, Madison, Mitchell, Yankton, and Sioux Falls. These museums have preserved artifacts that showcase the rich Native American and pioneering history of this region. Mark your calendars for area arts and music events such as: the Yankton Riverboat Days & Summer Arts Festival, the Sioux River Folk Festival at Newton Hills State Park, both in August, and the Sidewalk Arts Festival in Sioux Falls each September. Downtown Sioux Falls has many events throughout the year. Downtown Sioux Falls, Yankton and Vermillion have original sculptures and murals on public display to enjoy throughout the year. The massive Arc of Dreams sculpture, by renowned South Dakota artist Dale Lamphere (Dignity Sculpture), spans the Big Sioux River in downtown Sioux Falls. Porter Sculpture Park, located along I-90 at the Montrose exit, is a unique roadside attraction full of sculptures that are both whimsical and surreal, all made by one artist out of metal “junk”, some as tall as 60 feet and weighing 40 tons. Check ahead for up to date information as you plan your trip. SoutheastSouthDakota.com // 211 SOUTHEAST REGION
South Dakota Vacation Guide South Dakota Vacation Guide 2022: Page 211
