Old Courthouse Museum of Sioux Falls
The Old Courthouse Museum is a National Historic Landmark which contains collections about the history of Sioux Falls, South Dakota. It is one of two Siouxland Heritage Museums that were established to help spread knowledge of Sioux Falls history.
The building that houses the Old Courthouse Museum is a restored 1890's Richardsonian Romanesque building that is made of pink quartzite. The clock tower dates back to 1893. There is a restored circuit courtroom as well as a law library. This landmark was opened as a museum in 1974 and holds many exhibitions on the history and culture of its region. Murals painted in the early 1900's decorate the walls in the building.
Exhibitions included at the Old Courthouse Museum are "Brought to Life: Historical Paintings of Ron Backer" and "It's a Hit! Baseball in Minnehaha County." Ron Backer's work depicts Sioux Falls life around the turn of the 20th Century. By using historic newspaper articles, photographs, and period descriptions, Backer reproduces everyday life in old Sioux Falls. "It's a Hit!" explores the history of baseball in this region over the past century, from city teams to professional leagues.
In addition to exhibitions, the Old Courthouse Museum offers lectures and workshops, such as textile preservation and children's crafts based on the Siouxland history. Traditional music concerts are sometimes held here, many of which are followed by open discussions about the history that the music portrays or portrayed. The Old Courthouse Museum is also home to the Minnehaha County Historical Society and the Sioux Valley Genealogical Society Library.
Admission to the Old Courthouse Museum is free.
If you are looking to find information about the Siouxland region, the Old Courthouse Museum in downtown Sioux Falls is a great place to begin learning about this historic region.
