Traditional Medicines

Located in the heart of the Black Hills of western South Dakota, Crazy Horse Memorial is the world's largest mountain carving in progress. When completed, the depiction of the great Lakota warrior will be 641 feet long and 563 feet high. Crazy Horse Memorial is a 501(c) (3) non-profit organization, with funding being provided by admission to the memorial and private donations. The purpose of the project is to protect and preserve the culture and living heritage of all North American Indians.

The South Dakota National Guard Museum covers the history of the South Dakota National Guard from 1861 to current day. The museum's mission is to acquire, preserve, protect, and display military equipment, records, relics, and memorabilia representing the heritage of the Dakota Militia and the South Dakota Army and Air National Guard. The museum also educates National Guard members and the general public about the heritage of the South Dakota National Guard both in peace and at war. Located in Pierre, not far from the Missouri River, the museum is open 9 a.m.-4 p.m., Monday through Friday.

Dakota Drum Company in downtown Rapid City specializes in Native American art including buffalo rawhide drums, hand painted by Lakota artist Sonja Holy Eagle. Known for our traditional buffalo hide drums made from handscraped buffalo rawhide with cottonwood frames, as well as one-sided drums, we pride ourselves on the quality of our products and our Native American art. We also carry hide paintings by Sonja, along with traditional beadwork and quillwork done by artists from the Cheyenne River, Pine Ridge, and Rosebud Reservations. You can also find beautiful buffalo robes, sweetgrass, and sage, along with many other traditional arts. We are open 9 a.m.-6 p.m., Monday through Sunday.

Founded in 1973 on the campus of The University of South Dakota in Vermillion, the National Music Museum (NMM) is one of the great institutions of its kind in the world. Its renowned collections feature fine and historic instruments from many cultures and historical periods. Spanning hundreds of years, the NMM’s 15,000+ instruments range from priceless Italian violins to celebrity guitars, from organs to orchestrion, from harps to harpsichords, from dombaks to didgeridoos, from Les Paul to Sgt. Pepper, from Stradivari to Elvis. NMM hours are 10 a.m.-4 p.m., Tuesday through Friday, and 12-4 p.m., Saturday. General admission for adults is $10, admission for children up to 18 is $5, and admission for seniors (65+), AAA members and military/first responders is $8.

The Dakota Plains Gallery & Gifts in downtown Chamberlain provides a venue for artists to showcase and market their work. The gallery also features artists who provide gallery talks, cultural classes, storytelling and author signings. The Dakota Indian Foundation is a non-profit organization that created the Dakota Plains Gallery for the purpose of promoting economic development for local tribal artists. Every purchase is a donation toward academic scholarships and grants that preserve Dakota culture. Business hours are 8 a.m.-5 p.m., Monday through Friday.

The Daneville Heritage Museum is located on the western edge of the downtown Viborg business district. The campus consists of three major buildings: the original Gross Hatchery building, the former Daneville Township District #46 1926 school building, and the Danish barn-like main building. The museum strives to celebrate and document the Danish roots of the Viborg area and to record the achievements of the Danish immigrants making settlement in southeastern Dakota Territory. Current regular museum and office hours are 9 a.m.-2 p.m. every Thursday and Friday, every 2nd and 4th Wednesday of the month, and every 1st and 3rd Saturday. Other times can be arranged for individuals, family groups, or organizations by calling the museum. Admission is free.

Located in the shadow of Mount Rushmore in the historic town of Keystone, the National Presidential Wax Museum is an impressive highlight on any traveler's itinerary. Featuring the works of world-famous wax artist Katherine Stubergh, the museum displays more than 100 life-sized wax sculptures of some of the most iconic figures in American history. We are open seven days per week. From August 17-October 31, 2020, we are open 8:30 a.m.-5 p.m., Monday through Friday, and 8:30 a.m.-8 p.m., Saturday and Sunday.