Top Things to do in South Dakota
Top Hotels in South Dakota
- 1. Best Western Plus Rapid City Rushmore
- 2. Bavarian Inn, Black Hills
- 3. K Bar S Lodge
- 4. Hampton Inn & Suites Southwest/Sioux Falls
- 5. La Quinta Inn & Suites by Wyndham Sioux Falls
- 6. Deadwood Gulch Resort, Trademark Collection by Wyndham
- 7. Best Western Golden Spike Inn & Suites
- 8. Comfort Suites Conference Center Rapid City
- 9. La Quinta Inn & Suites by Wyndham Rapid City
- 10. Country Inn & Suites by Radisson, Rapid City, SD
What to do and see in South Dakota, United States: The Best History Museums
South Dakota has good golf courses, skiing, snowmobiling, horseback riding, hiking, and biking among rolling prairies, pine forests, and granite mountain peaks like Mount Rushmore. Glacial lakes and Missouri River reservoir lakes provide great fishing, boating, canoeing, water skiing, and windsurfing. The whole family will enjoy this prairie land where grain growing begat roadside attractions like the Corn Palace in Mitchell. Everything made from corn, even the popcorn, tastes better here. Where buffalo roam, roadside diners serve up buffalo and luscious homemade fruit pies. Shop for good deals on cowboy boots on the same Black Hills and Badland Main Streets where cowboys and cowgirls outfit themselves. Be near the eroded buttes, spires, and prairie grasslands of Badlands National Park in Lead, Deadwood, Rapid City, Spearfish, Sturgis, Hill City, Custer, and other nearby towns. The whole family will enjoy watching for big game like bison, bighorn sheep, antelope, eagles, and hawks. Drive the one-hour Hwy 240 loop road, with a side-trip to Robert's Prairie Dog Town. Learn about the Oglala Sioux Tribe at the White River Visitor Center, which is near Wounded Knee. Tour the Minuteman Missile National Historic Site's Cold War nuclear silos, just outside the Park's boundaries. About 90 minutes west of Badlands National Park is Mount Rushmore. Lead, Deadwood, Rapid City, Spearfish, Sturgis, Hill City, Whitetail Springs, and Custer are also very near Mount Rushmore National Memorial, Custer State Park, Wind Cave National Park, and Jewel Cave National Monument. View Mount Rushmore from the aerial tramway in Keystone, which also houses the Borglum Historical Center celebrating the artist behind the sculpting of Rushmore. Take the kids to the Dinosaur Park in Rapid City. Attend Custer State Park’s Annual Buffalo Roundup and Arts Festival. Bedazzle the whole family with sparkling calcite crystals in 151-mile long Jewel Cave. Bison, pronghorn, and elk graze the grasslands of Wind Cave National Park. Central South Dakota has the state capitol, Pierre, in addition to numerous lakes along the Missouri River. Go fishing and boating in the rivers and lakes. Take the kids to the South Dakota Discovery Center and Aquarium in Pierre to see the state’s native fish. Drop by the Dacotah Prairie Museum along the James River in Aberdeen in the northeast to learn prairie history and natural history. Swing by Sioux Falls to see the USS South Dakota Battleship Memorial and special exhibits at the Old Courthouse Museum. Choose from among 10 golf courses in Sioux Falls.
Restaurants in South Dakota
1. Cultural Heritage Center
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 112 reviews
Not your typical museum structure, this one is built into the side of hill, and much of it is underground. A contemporary version of a traditional Native American dwelling, this beautiful building features Native American (mostly the Sioux tribes) and pioneer exhibits, with many rare artifacts tracing the history of South Dakota.
Reviewed By breebunny96 - Aberdeen, United States
This center is one of a kind. From the moment you walk through those doors, you are transported back in time to the history of pioneers, Native Americans, and even to the cold war, where you learn about SD's role and missile silos. If you love history, this is definitely worth your time.
2. Moody County Museum
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 1 reviews
3. Sicangu Heritage Center Museum and Archives
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 1 reviews
4. Akta Lakota Museum
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 392 reviews
Visit the Akta Lakota Museum to experience a living lesson on the Native American way of life, past and present. Each year we receive thousands of visitors from all over the globe that want to deepen their appreciation of Lakota culture. As an outreach program of St. Joseph's Indian School we pride ourselves on not just providing that experience but creating an atmosphere conducive to learning and healing into the hearts of our students as well as our visitors. What makes our museum such a wonderful experience is our focus. We have an outstanding collection of cultural, historical and artistic works that relate specifically to the Northern Plains Indian Tribes, the ancestry of the students served at St. Joseph's. Our historical collection honors the past while our contemporary collection represents the creative spirit of today's world. We work closely with Indian artist and artisans to present contemporary artwork that builds on cultural traditions while expressing itself in new ways. What you take away from your visit is the understanding that Lakota culture is not just a thing of the past. It's alive and thriving today.
Reviewed By ricardorA521SG
We stopped on a fluke. Learned so much about the boarding school and about the Sioux peoples. It’s a beautiful facility and it’s free. BUT please make a donation!
5. Wades Gold Mill
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 179 reviews
Wade's Gold Mill is CLOSED for 2020. Please take care and God Bless! Wade's Gold Mill is an authentic, historic experience.
6. Klein Museum
7. The Guns of History Gallery
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 6 reviews
Weapons and Memorabilia dealing with the Battles of the Upper Plains Indian Wars. You will see such names as Crazy Horse, Sitting Bull, Gall, Two Moons and men from Custer's 7th Calvary. Battlefield guns from Little Big Horn, Rosebud and Wounded Knee to name a few. Not your ordinary gun museum, every piece has a history and we bring them all to light. If you like Guns OR History this museum is one you don't want to miss.
8. High Plains Western Heritage Center Museum
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 100 reviews
Features a 5-State Regional Museum founded to honor the Old West Pioneers and American Indians of North Dakota, South Dakota, Nebraska, Wyoming and Montana. Western Artifacts, Western Art, Live Animals and Family History Displays are used as a determinant of Historical Events.
Reviewed By 521randyt - Whitehouse Station, United States
Very interesting museum with lots of history and artifacts from mid-1800's on describing the cattle drive / industry in late 1800's, rodeo history, pioneering life on the high plains, and much more. There is a small exhibit about Native Americans in the area, however, I wish it was more complete and balanced. I wish it would highlight the tragedy of the displacement of the native population and taking over of their lands. Information of the Battle of Little Big Horn is one-sided and should give the view of the battle from the indigenous people's perspective.
9. Oglala Lakota College Historical Center
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 7 reviews
10. South Dakota Air and Space Museum
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 904 reviews
Aircraft that have been flown throughout the eras are on display at South Dakota's premiere free aviation museum! The museum has two major static display venues: First, a outdoor air park filled with WWII, Korea, Vietnam, Cold War, and present day aircraft lets you get close to & touch history. This includes the currently flown B-1B Lancer. Secondly, four historical hangars showcase military history & technology,space tech & EROS, SD aviation, and EAFB local military history in a fresh and immersive walk-through. Mid-May through Mid-September bus tours of nearby Ellsworth AFB and the Minuteman II missile training silo are offered at a nominal fee. You will be able to go inside the silo and on base for a 50 minute guided tour of the only MMII silo open to the public. Make sure you bring your ID or Passport (Non-US) to enjoy the tour!
Reviewed By 107drewg - Rapid City, United States
In a city no larger than Rapid City, the museum at Ellsworth AFB far exceeds expectations if you are interested in military aviation history. Bombers, B-1 and B-29, among others are on display as is General Eisenhower's personal transport from WWII. The indoor portion of the museum is also well prepared and includes a B-1 cockpit.
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