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Attractions

State Capitol

Completed in 1910, the Capitol is stunning with its dramatic murals, stained glass, elaborate tilework and collections of sculpture and art.  The Capitol building is open to visitors from 8 am to 7 pm, Monday through Friday and 8 am to 5 pm, Saturday and Sunday.  During Christmas at the Capitol (November 26, 2025 – December 26, 2025) and Legislative Session (January 14, 2025 – March 13, 2025), hours are 8 am to 10 pm daily.  Self-guided tours are available along with guided tours for groups of 15 or more with a 48-hour advanced reservation.

500 E Capitol Ave., Pierre  605.773.3688           www.sd.gov 

South Dakota National Guard Museum

SD National Guard MuseumEstablished in 1862 as a frontier militia, the South Dakota National Guard is tightly woven into the state’s history.  The South Dakota National Guard Museum is the state’s repository for relics, memorabilia and historical documents relating to the guard’s activities from late 1800s through recent peacekeeping missions.  Open 9 am to 4 pm, Monday through Friday.

301 E Dakota, Pierre 605.224.9991                        SD National Guard Museum – Department of Military – National Guard Musuem

Lewis & Clark Family Center

Lewis and Clark Family CenterFeel the difference between elk and buffalo hides.  Learn to identify the tracks of native animals.  See a dug-out canoe like those used on Lewis and Clark’s historic expedition.  The interactive displays of the Lewis and Clark Family Center, located at Farm Island, offer hands-on lesson in U.S. history.  Open Memorial Day to Labor Day.

1301 Farm Island Rd., Pierre 605.773.2885           Farm Island Recreation Area | South Dakota Game, Fish, and Parks

Monuments &Memorials

Fighting Stallions MemorialThe grounds of the State Capitol include several monuments and memorials. Fighting Stallions Memorial honors eight South Dakotans, including Governor George Mickelson, who died in a plane crash in 1993. The state’s World War II is set on a peninsula built into Capitol Lake and consists of six bronzed figures representing the military branches in which South Dakotans served.  Facing the WWII Monument is the Korean War, a wall bearing the names of the state’s fallen heroes.  The Flaming Fountain Memorial feature a flowing artesian well and provides a centerpiece for the war memorials.  This warm water fountain flows into Capitol Lake, keeping the water open year-round and providing a warm resting place for migratory waterfowl.  Nearby memorials also hont the state’s fallen firefighters and law enforcement officers.

500 E Capitol Ave., Pierre  605.773.3688             www.sd.gov 

Trail of Governors

Come walk or run along the country’s only Trail of Governors.  South Dakota’s capitol city features life-sized bronze statues of the state’s 31 former governornors.  Learn more abouthe trail via Facebook and about the Run With the Govs 3.5 mile run/walk held each June

www.trailofgovernors.com

Oahe Dam Visitors Center

Oahe DamIt’s always beautiful on Lake Oahe!  Take in the view and learn about Lake Oahe, the Oahe Chapel, the Missouri River and the Oahe Dam and Hydroelectric power plant through exhibits and brochures.  Dam tours are available to the public Memorial Day through Labor Day.  During this time there is one tour per day at 1 PM Central Time Tuesday – Saturday.  All other tours must be scheduled in advance.  A photo ID is required for anyone 18 years and older.

Visitor Center Hours

Winter: Monday – Friday  10 AM to 4 PM

Summer: Monday – Friday 9 AM to 5 PM

Directory | Missouri River Tourism

South Dakota Cultural Heritage Center

Temporarily Closed Until December 2025.  The extensive collections of the South Dakota Cultural Heritage Center preserve the historical and cultural legacy of the state’s early Sioux inhabitants and the first waves of European settlers. Open year-round, the museum features permanent, rotating, and traveling exhibits.  Admission is charged for out-of-state visitors; kids under 17 are free.

900 Governors Dr., Pierre 605.773.3458 www.history.sd.gov

South Dakota Discovery Center

Fun, interactive learning is the focus of the South Dakota Discovery Center. More than 60 hands-on exhibits illustrate principles of electricity, magnetism, life sciences, telecommunications and physics.

805 Sioux Ave., Pierre 605.224.8295                  www.sd-discovery.com