In the southeast of the state is its largest town, Sioux Falls (pop. 82,000). Originally founded in 1856, it had soon afterwards to be abandoned because of continual Indian attacks and began to develop only after the construction of Fort Dakota to provide protection. The waterfalls from which the town takes it name are situated to the north of Downtown. Also of interest are the Great Plains Zoo and Delbridge Museum of Natural History in Sherman Park and the USS South Dakota Battleship Memorial, as big as the World War II battleship itself and housing a military museum.
The USS South Dakota was the most decorated battleship of World War II. It served in every major battle in the Pacific from 1942 to 1945. The memorial to the ship in Sherman Park has a museum and was built to honor those who served on her and the 42 people who died while aboard.
The Delbridge Museum of Natural History has a collection of 150 mounted animals, including 36 "vanishing species".
Address: Great Plains Zoo & Delbridge Museum of Natural History, 805 South Kiwanis Avenue, Sioux Falls, SD 57104-3716, United States
Phone: 1 (605) 367-7003, Fax: 1 (605) 367-8340
Hours:
April 1 to September 30: 9am-6pm
October 1 to March 31: 10am-4pm
Always closed on: New Year's Day (January 1), Thanksgiving - USA (4th Thursday, November ), Christmas - Christian (December 25)
The Great Plains Zoo features more than 1,000 animals from anteaters to zebras, penguins to porcupines. Most of the animals are displayed in their natural habitats such as tigers, snow leopards, giraffes, rhinoceros, flamingoes and a variety of primates.
Address: Great Plains Zoo & Delbridge Museum of Natural History, 805 South Kiwanis Avenue, Sioux Falls, SD 57104-3716, United States
Phone: 1 (605) 367-7003, Fax: 1 (605) 367-8340
Hours:
April 1 to September 30: 9am-7pm
October 1 to March 31: 10am-5pm
Always closed on: New Year's Day (January 1), Thanksgiving - USA (4th Thursday, November ), Christmas - Christian (December 25)
The Outdoor Campus in Sioux Falls features dioramas of South Dakota's outdoor habitats including a prairie, a woodland, a wetland, agricultural lands and a backyard landscape. The 3,000 gallon aquarium is filled with native fish found in warm water lakes in South Dakota including Northern Pike, Largemouth Bass, Walleye, Perch, Bluegills, Catfish and Crappie are featured.
Address: Outdoor Campus, 4500 South Oxbow Avenue, Sioux Falls, SD 57106-4114, United States
Phone: 1 (605) 362-2777, Fax: 1 (605) 362-2704
Displays at the Performance Car Museum in Sioux Falls include Shelbys, Big Block Chevys, Mopars and some modern muscle cars such as a Ferrari Testarossa.
Address: Performance Car Museum, 3505 South Phillips Avenue, Sioux Falls, SD 57105-6861, United States
Phone: 1 (605) 338-4884, Fax: 1 (605) 338-5337
The Sertoma Butterfly House in Sioux Falls is home to more than 700 free-flying butterflies. The surroundings of the climate-controlled building include tropical plants, a waterfall and a Koi pond.
Address: Sertoma Butterfly House, 4320 Oxbow Avenue, Sioux Falls, SD 57106, United States
Phone: 1 (605) 334-9466, Fax: 1 (605) 334-9662
Hours:
May 28 to September 5: 10am-6pm; Sun:1pm-5pm
September 6 to May 27: 10am-4pm; Sun:1pm-4pm
Always closed on: Thanksgiving - USA (4th Thursday, November ), Christmas - Christian (December 25), Easter - Christian
The Washington Pavilion in Sioux Falls features the Visual Arts Center, Kirby Science Discovery Center, Wells Fargo CineDome Theater and Husby Performing Arts Center.
Wild Water West in Sioux Falls features water slides, a lazy river, two activity pools, and a sand volleyball pit. The Family Amusement Park has Commando Paintball, a large selection of go-karts, bumper boats, miniature golf, and the All-Star Batting Cage Complex.
Address: Wild Water West Waterpark and Family Amusement Park, 26767 466th Avenue, Sioux Falls, SD 57106-6902, United States
Phone: 1 (605) 361-9313, Fax: 1 (605) 361-3173
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Old Courthouse Museum, Sioux Falls
Sioux Falls
