CULTURAL IMMERSION

• This monument, marking a treaty between the United States and the Yankton Sioux Tribe, can be found on a hill approximately ¼ mile north of the community of Greenwood.

• Walk in the footsteps of Lewis & Clark, where the Corps of Discovery thought they would find little people with big heads inhabiting the mound. While they didn’t find any little people, they did lay their eyes on millions of American Bison and thousands of acres of natural prairie. Spirit Mound is located north of Vermillion off of Highway 19.

• Located southeast of Sioux Falls, Good Earth State Park is an important cultural and historical site. Additionally, the park offers several trails for enjoying its beautiful surroundings.

• This museum, located in Flandreau, promotes a greater understanding of the history and heritage of the region, including the area’s Native American culture and influence.

• Located on the Flandreau Indian School campus, just north of Flandreau, this center displays artifacts, memorabilia and contemporary materials.

• Home to the only active archeological site in South Dakota that’s open to the public, the campus features a kids dig area and a museum with historical treasures like a full buffalo skeleton and a full-sized recreation of an earthen lodge. Most popular is the Archeodome Interpretive Center, a giant dome that covers the active dig area where students travel from England each summer to see what artifacts can be unearthed. The Prehistoric Indian Village is located on the edge of Mitchell. 

• When the Dakota settled in northeastern South Dakota, they encountered a wooded area, or hollow, filled with unusual occurrences. Glowing tree stumps, moaning sounds and a stream that ran red, led the Dakota to call this enchanted hollow “sica,” which means “bad.” Today, Sica Hollow is a state park known for its hiking and horseback riding trails and it is located 15 miles northwest of Sisseton.

• This unique building in Agency Village is built in the shape of four drummers sitting around a drum, and can be seen from Interstate 29.

• The Sisseton Wahpeton Oyate tribe maintains a small herd of buffalo near Enemy Swim. Tours are available with advance notice.

• The Sitting Bull Monument is located roughly seven miles southwest of Mobridge. There is some controversy over where the Sioux chief and spiritual leader’s remains actually lie, but the monument itself is a beautiful memorial to his dedication to his people.

• Visitors to this quaint museum will find remnants of the Old West in the community of Timber Lake, fossils from a prehistoric time, and genealogical information about the area’s settlers and current inhabitants.

• One of this award-winning museum’s prize pieces is a sacred medicine rock. Originally located 15 miles west of Gettysburg, this 40-ton piece of granite is embedded with human footprints and a handprint. The rock is considered sacred to the Lakota people.

• The official museum of the South Dakota State Historical Society, located in Pierre, tells the story of the state’s history, from pre-statehood to present day. (The Cultural Heritage Center is currently closed for a $19.5 million remodel and is scheduled to reopen in 2026.)
  

• The words “Akta Lakota” mean “to honor the people,” and were chosen for the museum’s purpose of honoring and preserving the rich culture of the Lakota people. The museum is located on the campus of St. Joseph's Indian School in Chamberlain.

Buechel Memorial Lakota Museum

• This museum’s impressive collection includes a child’s fully-beaded vest, a cradleboard and a buffalo hide robe. Located in the community of St. Francis, the museum’s gift shop features beadwork, leather and metal crafts, books and other fine items.   

• The Wounded Knee Cemetery and monument is located south of the community of Porcupine on BIA 27.

• Located in the Chamber of Commerce building near Kyle, the Pine Ridge Visitor Center provides visitor and travel information and features Lakota art and wildlife displays.

• On the campus of the Oglala Lakota College, visitors can see historical photographs and artwork displays that chronicle the history of the Oglala Lakota from the early 1800s through the Wounded Knee Massacre in 1890. An audio recording provides greater meaning to the displays.

• This center is located in what is known as the ‘south unit’ of Badlands National Park, about 20 miles south of the community of Scenic. Open only during the summer months, this center features Lakota exhibits and a video program.

• Located on the campus of the Red Cloud Indian School in Pine Ridge, the heritage center houses an extensive collection of prize-winning paintings, graphics and sculptures, and displays of historical and contemporary Lakota art, including beadwork and porcupine quillwork. Each summer, the center hosts the Red Cloud Indian Art Show, which showcases the works of modern Native American artists.

• This heritage center museum on the campus of Sinte Gleska University houses the official archives of the Rosebud Sioux Tribe, as well as artifacts collected by the University. It is located in the community of Antelope, just east of Mission.

Soldier Woman Art & Gift Gallery, Mission