Sioux Falls Tourist Attractions
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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.
Center for Western Studies
The Center for Western Studies in Sioux Falls preserves and interprets the history and cultures of the Northern Plains with 200 archival collections and a library. The collection features more than 35,000 volumes on the American West.Exhibits in the gallery include beaded and quilled clothing, dolls and items of daily use by Plains Indians; Scandinavian furnishings; pieces by renowned wildlife artist Roger Preuss, work of photographer Fred Farrar, water-colorist Herb Fisher, sculptor Palmer Eide, and painters Belva Curtis, Robert Wood, and Oscar Howe.
Outdoor Campus
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.
Battleship USS South Dakota Memorial
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.
Great Plains Zoo
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.
Delbridge Museum of Natural History
The Delbridge Museum of Natural History has a collection of 150 mounted animals, including 36 "vanishing species".
Siouxland Heritage Museums
The history of Sioux Falls and Minnehaha County are presented through the Siouxland Heritage Museums. The museums consist of the Pettigrew Home and Museum and the Old Courthouse Museum. Guided tours, workshops, slide shows, and other programs are offered.
Old Courthouse Museum
The Old Courthouse Museum in Sioux Falls is a restored 1800s quartzite building with three floors featuring regional history exhibits. The restored 1890 Circuit courtroom and Law Library are open for visitors.
Pettigrew Home and Museum
The Pettigrew Home & Museum in Sioux Falls is the Queen Anne-style home of South Dakota's first senator, Richard Pettigrew. It was built in 1889 and features exhibits on Siouxland's history.
Wild Water West Waterpark and Family Amusement Park
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.
Sertoma Butterfly House
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.
Washington Pavilion of Arts and Science
The Washington Pavilion in Sioux Falls features the Visual Arts Center, Kirby Science Discovery Center, Wells Fargo CineDome Theater and Husby Performing Arts Center.
Performance Car Museum
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.
