Old Courthouse Museum, Sioux Falls, SD

Old Courthouse Museum, Sioux Falls, SD Make time for history at the Old Courthouse Museum. This beautifully-restored 1800s quartzite build
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Stop in at the Old Courthouse Museum Store and stock up on supplies for the long holiday weekend!You’ll find: -Camping P...
05/21/2026

Stop in at the Old Courthouse Museum Store and stock up on supplies for the long holiday weekend!

You’ll find:

-Camping Puzzles
- Protein Bites (locally made!)
- Beef Jerky and Cranberry Pecan Beef Pemmican (also locally made!)
- Hiking Guides
- Patriotic Puzzles
- New Books (This Land is Your Land; This Vast Enterprise; The Westerners; America’s First Daughter)
- America 250 Products

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The Old Courthouse Museum Summer Concert SeriesFridays, NOON TO 1 P.M.   Free AdmissionIn the Plaza Behind the Old Court...
05/20/2026

The Old Courthouse Museum Summer Concert Series
Fridays, NOON TO 1 P.M. Free Admission
In the Plaza Behind the Old Courthouse Museum

June 5th
Marty DeWitt
Folk, Farm, & Family

June 12th
The Shamrockers
Connor, Bristow, & Gullickson Acoustic

June 19th
No Concert
Closed for Juneteenth

June 26th
Mississippi Hot Club
String Jazz Ensemble

July 3rd
No Concert
Closed for Independence Day

July 10th
Tom Watson
Solo Guitarist and Vocalist

July 17th
Rowena Ceili Band
Irish Dance Music

July 24th
Weary Ramblers
Americana Duo

July 31st
Trevin Nelson
Singer/Songwriter Multi-Instrumentalist

August 7th
Jazzed with Bobby Gripp
Jazz on the Menu

August 14th
Benny Bassett
Soulful Acoustic Storyteller

August 21st
Geoff Gunderson
Guitar Mix from Classical to Pop

August 28th
Porch Swing
Western Swing Band

Limited space still available!!Climb aboard and take a trip with the Siouxland Heritage Museums Into the Pit of the Knif...
05/15/2026

Limited space still available!!

Climb aboard and take a trip with the Siouxland Heritage Museums Into the Pit of the Knife River quarry this summer! Into the Pit quarry tours continue in May and June at 9:30 a.m. Minnehaha County has a long history in the quarry industry from the 1800s to today. Museum staff will share a historical perspective, and the quarry staff will discuss the current techniques of a modern quarry.
Reservations are required, and tours fill up quickly. Recommended for ages 12 and up.

Limited space still available on May 21, 26, and 28 and June 11, 18, 25, and 30 at 9:30 a.m. Call (605)367-4210 to register now! Only five spots are allowed per reservation. Admission is free.

Who knew homesteading could be this fun?  Kids can experience life as a frontier child in the Dakota Territory at Pionee...
04/29/2026

Who knew homesteading could be this fun? Kids can experience life as a frontier child in the Dakota Territory at Pioneer Day Camp. It’s outdoor, educational, and an all-around great time!
Pioneer Day Camp is a full day of fun at Beaver Creek Nature Area with activities that include fishing, candle dipping, making ice cream, and much more! The camp is for kids 7 to 12 years old, $35 includes registration, meal, and a snack. Registration is open and space is limited, call 605-367-4210 to register!

One Day Camp: June 2, 9, 16, 23
8 a.m. to 5 p.m.

What better way to celebrate Earth Day this year than to look at our namesake, the falls of the Big Sioux River.  The im...
04/22/2026

What better way to celebrate Earth Day this year than to look at our namesake, the falls of the Big Sioux River. The images above show a circa 1885 image of the falls with homes, schools, churches, and industries of early Sioux Falls. And then a present-day image showing the progress of our ever growing city but with the falls always at its center. The last 2 images are zoomed in showing some of the locations.

The falls have drawn people to this area since prehistoric times. Lying directly north of the present day downtown Sioux Falls, the “falls” of the Big Sioux River consist of a series of waterfalls cascading over a large area of exposed pink quartzite.

When the area was originally settled, the people of Sioux Falls saw the falls as a restful and quiet meeting place. By the end of the 19th century, the rise of the Industrial Revolution and its demands for modernization saw local feelings change. Besides admiring the picturesque beauty of the falls, the pioneers saw the Big Sioux River and its falls as a useful and inexpensive power source.

The falls soon became used for the economic advancement of Sioux Falls business and industry. During this period of economic growth, the community and industrial companies turned their backs to the natural beauty of the river and its falls. The river provided a relatively quiet and reliable power source and carried away the wastes of industry without complaint.

Now, the trend has turned full circle. With the redevelopment of the area, Falls Park is once again becoming a quiet retreat for the people of Sioux Falls and a destination for visitors.

How have clocks changed? What were some of the most popular American clockmaker brands? When did people start using pock...
04/16/2026

How have clocks changed? What were some of the most popular American clockmaker brands? When did people start using pocket watches and wristwatches?

Find the answers to these questions and more in It’s About Time, our latest exhibit at the Old Courthouse Museum.

Join us for the opening reception of “It’s About Time” on April 16th from 4:30 to 6:30 p.m.
Admission is free.
Sponsored by the Siouxland Heritage Museums Alliance.

04/03/2026

Holiday Hours this Week:
Friday, April 3rd 8 a.m.-Noon
Saturday, April 4th 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Sunday, April 5th Closed for Easter

🍀HAPPY ST PATRICK’S DAY🍀Beer is here and the bar is set, green beads and swag are on the tables, the band is tuning up, ...
03/17/2026

🍀HAPPY ST PATRICK’S DAY🍀
Beer is here and the bar is set, green beads and swag are on the tables, the band is tuning up, and the food is coming in! Join us tonight from 5-7 for our Traditional Irish Celebration!

03/15/2026

The Old Courthouse Museum will be closed today, Sunday, March 15 due to weather.

Happy National History Day!The Old Courthouse Museum is the host of the South Dakota Region 1 Competition for National H...
03/12/2026

Happy National History Day!

The Old Courthouse Museum is the host of the South Dakota Region 1 Competition for National History Day. Southeast South Dakota students in grades 6-12 gather today to present their projects based on this year’s theme of “Revolution, Reaction, Reform in History.” Projects include papers, exhibits, websites, documentaries and performances. Today’s winners will advance to the state-level competition, and state-level winners move on to the national competition in Washington, D. C.

Good luck to all of today’s competitors!

Address

200 W 6th Street
Sioux Falls, SD
57104

Opening Hours

Monday 8am - 5pm
Tuesday 8am - 5pm
Wednesday 8am - 5pm
Thursday 8am - 9pm
Friday 8am - 5pm
Saturday 9am - 5pm
Sunday 12pm - 5pm

Telephone

(605) 367-4210

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