photo by gusto

Sioux Falls, with a population of 116,762, is easily the cultural and commercial leader in the state. It is in the southeast corner of South Dakota, at the junction of I-90 and I-29. The city was named for the rapids at Falls Park, which is just north of downtown.

The Sioux River Greenway Recreation Trail is a good way to see the area. It circles the city from Falls Peak to Elmwood Golf Course.

Sioux Falls has many art galleries, a symphony orchestra, dance companies, and playhouses. There are 62 parks, boutiques, five golf courses, a zoo, and more than 150 different kinds of restaurants.

The St Joseph’s Cathedral Historic District is dedicated to the preservation of the Queen Anne style homes, which were built before the depression of the 1890s.

One of these homes belonged to US Senator Richard Pettigrew. He collected art from his world travels and donated the house and its belongings to the people of Sioux Falls upon his death. The Pettigrew Home and Museum provides an insightful tour of the senator’s life as well as a tour of exhibits covering the natural and cultural past of Sioux Falls and Minnehaha County.

The Old Courthouse Museum also features history of the area but adds special events to enhance the experience, such as sheep shearing, tinsmithing, and weaving.

Held in September, the Tribal Arts Festival attracts Native American artists and visitors from around the world. The Old Courthouse was built in 1890 with Sioux quartzite. Inside there are murals of scenes from Sioux Falls’ history.

There are also two museums, the Minnehaha County Historical Society and the Sioux Valley Genealogical Society Library.

Historic walking tours are available of the courthouse and there is a museum store selling related merchandise, including books on local history. These are both National Historic Landmarks and are full of the history of the Sioux land region. The USS South Dakota Battleship Memorial is dedicated to the most decorated US battleship in World War II.

Sioux Falls has its own regional airport and is serviced by buses.