South Dakota Cultural Heritage Center

South Dakota Cultural Heritage Center, Pierre, SD

From the horse cultures of the Northern Plains Indians to gutsy homesteaders to old west scoundrels, experience the heritage and culture of South Dakota at the South Dakota Cultural Heritage Center as part of this group bus tour. Nestled into a bluff north of Pierre, South Dakota’s capitol building, the South Dakota Cultural Heritage Center was established in 1989 by the South Dakota State Historical Society in order to preserve and interpret the heritage and culture of South Dakota’s people. Featuring the State Archives and Museum and housing the Society’s administrative, historic preservation and research, and publishing offices, today the South Dakota Cultural Heritage Center promotes an understanding and appreciation of South Dakota’s rich heritage and complex history through collections, exhibits, programs and events that engage and inspire people to explore history’s impact.

South Dakota Cultural Heritage Center

Visiting South Dakota Cultural Heritage Center

During your visit to this Pierre, South Dakota attraction, enjoy the Museum’s South Dakota Experience, recreating the cultural history of South Dakota, from the stories of Native tribes that inhabited South Dakota before statehood to the 21st century. The Heritage Store offers a variety of attractive, quality South Dakota made items and items that reflect South Dakota.

The South Dakota Experience Galleries

The South Dakota Experience Galleries explores the social, political and cultural history of the South Dakota and Dakota Territory, from its earliest inhabitants to present day through artifacts from the Museum Collection, historic photographs from the State Archives, full-scale dioramas and interactive displays.

Proving Up

Discover South Dakota’s history from the placing of the Verendrye Plate in 1743 to the final fight for the state capital in 1904 in Proving Up. As you make your way through the gallery, you can experience the adventures of the explorers, trappers, settlers, miners and statesmen that established South Dakota.

Changing Times - South Dakota in the 20th Century

In Changing Times, learn about the changes and challenges South Dakotans went through during the 20th century, from the launch of the rail lines and automobiles that helped the state to flourish to the struggles South Dakota communities faced during the Great Depression.

Hogen Gallery

In the history museum’s Marvis T. Florence Brown Hogen Gallery, you will find a number of changing exhibitions. Changing exhibitions in the Hogen Gallery promote an understanding and appreciation of South Dakota’s rich heritage and history. Examples of past exhibitions are Transformation and Continuity in Lakota Culture: The Collages of Arthur Amiotte, Our South Dakota: Big Land / Big Ideas / Big Heart and South Dakota Works.

Observation Gallery

Make your way to the South Dakota Cultural Center’s second floor Observation Gallery and delight in beautiful views of the State Capitol Building and the Missouri River bluffs. Special exhibits can be found in the Observation Gallery.

Shopping in the Heritage Store

Be sure to stop by the Heritage Store. Items made in and related to South Dakota are available to purchase, from art work featuring the South Dakota Capitol by artists like Jon Crane and Kathy Sigle to books published by the South Dakota State Historical Society Press and peyote stitched bracelets by Lori Luers.

Travel Tip

- The South Dakota Cultural Heritage Center is ADA compliant.

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