As promised, we will be visiting one of the most iconic wedding ceremony locations in Sioux Falls. Located downtown, this historic structure was built using the recognizable South Dakota pink quartzite partially quarried from the
As promised, we will be visiting one of the most iconic wedding ceremony locations in Sioux Falls. Located downtown, this historic structure was built using the recognizable South Dakota pink quartzite partially quarried from the falls itself, and the surrounding area.
Construction started in 1889, finished in 1893, and among Sioux Quartzite, the exterior boasts stained-glass windows and Roman archways. Boasting glass-tiled fireplaces and slate stairs, the Minnehaha County Courthouse operated up until 1962, when it was scheduled for demolition after being deemed too small for the growing county population.
However, many concerned Sioux Falls residents banded together to save the old courthouse, and soon after 1974 it was converted into a museum. Today, patrons can view three floors of natural and local history, seasonal and traveling exhibits, and even shop for a souvenir in their gift shop.
Brief history
While waiting for my friend to get off work, I decided to drive up to Sioux Falls early one morning and make this my first stop. Surprised there was no admission fee, I walked in and immediately noticed the giant granite pillars. What a beautiful building, and to think it was almost leveled, possibly becoming just a mere parking lot!
When you first walk in, you are greeted by a framed plaque introducing you to the building and a synopsis of its history. Built by Wallace LeRoy Dow, who also lent his architectural genius to the South Dakota Penitentiary and the Pettigrew House, the Old Courthouse is modeled after the then popular Richardsonian-Romanesque style.
In addition, you’ll learn about the clock tower, which was finished and installed in 1893. Standing 165 feet tall, the tower is also fitted with a 2,500-pound bell. Connected to the bell and once requiring a two-man team every week to reset it, is a 2,300-pound timepiece! Today, however, a small staff of employees need only to go up into the tower periodically to simply clean, along with basic maintenance.
Transported back in time
Moving on, I started on the 1st floor where the traveling exhibit featuring antique motorcycles was on display. My husband would definitely enjoy learning about a piece of American history, as well as picking up tidbits of random transportation knowledge.
Fawick Flyer
And since we’re talking about transportation, let’s go down the hallway, and on the other side of the front desk is an amazing piece of not only American history, but Sioux Falls heritage and story-telling. Allow me to introduce you to the Fawick Flyer. And if you remember from last month’s visit to Fawick Park, the local celebrity Thomas Fawick was responsible for donating the world-famous reproduction of the Statue of David to the city of Sioux Falls.
This vehicle is quite important to the automobile industry. Impressively, it was the first four-door automobile ever built in the United States, Teddy Roosevelt rode in it during a downtown Sioux Falls parade in 1910, and it had an aluminum body, instead of the commonly used steel base found in most automobiles manufactured at this time in history.
In addition, it could go 60 miles per hour, which was ground-breaking, being that the current speed limit in Sioux Falls in the early 1900s was a mere 7 mph! All this from a 19-year-old, you heard me right, he was only 19 years old when he built his Flyer. And for someone who was never formally educated past the seventh grade, it is quite impressive he was also able to develop more than 300 patents. I am seriously considering writing a blog post just on Fawick’s accomplishments…But, a las, we must continue, since we have the rest of the 1st floor and the other remaining two to explore.
1st and 2nd floors
Scenes of Sioux Falls
Continuing to the rest of the 1st floor, we find a snapshot of scenes dating back over 100 years. This exhibit is called “Scenes of Sioux Falls”, and visitors can visualize themselves right in the middle of a congested early to mid-century Phillips Avenue.
Native American tool design
Making our way to the second floor, we come upon wood and bone artifacts in the “Native American Tool Design” exhibit. Here you’ll find spoons, water vessels, weapons and building materials. This exhibit is extremely well designed. The bright lighting allows you to see every detail of each object, and I especially enjoyed reading the adjacent plaques above the glass display cases. I feel like I could spend an entire day examining and immersing myself in early North American culture.
The bottle and the ballot
Across the hall we go from prehistoric to prohibition, and find the Bottle and Ballot exhibit, which also shines light on women’s suffrage. This I especially enjoyed, since I learned so much! I knew about the state and federal governments limiting alcohol sales during the Prohibition Era, and about the women’s fight for voting rights, but I had no idea that South Dakota led the movement. In fact, a year after South Dakota permitted the right for women to vote statewide, Congress passed the 19th Amendment in 1918. And along with being passionate about using their voice on the ballot, women during that time also pressed for the ability to buy and sell alcohol whenever and to whomever they wanted. I’m thankful for their incessant and relentless pursuit for human rights, because now I can express myself both at the polls and at the breweries and vineyards as well.
Old courthouse courtroom
Down the short hallway is the courtroom where wedding banquets and ceremonies are held. How cool would it be to host your event here? Wedding season is right around the corner, so if you already have your ceremony and reception location booked, maybe consider the Old Courthouse for an epic vintage photo shoot. To learn more about booking and rental fees contact the Siouxland Heritage Museums at 605-367-4210, and check out their website (https://www.siouxlandmuseums.com/).
3rd floor
Pheasants on the plain
We have one last level to go, and the third floor is currently home to the Pheasant exhibit. I know pheasant hunting is incredibly popular during late Fall to early Winter, but I didn’t know Sioux Falls had a baseball team named after this colorful bird. My grandfather truly enjoyed hunting fowl, so he would particularly appreciate the history and story-telling, and even all the figurines and feathered hats.
Courtroom balcony
But the best part of the third floor is the balcony overlook of the courtroom below! From up here you can really grasp the artistic detail used to create the ceiling reliefs. Rising nearly 50 feet above the courthouse floor is the grand chandelier, which is also original to the building. Subsequently, I love that this centerpiece looks amazing from every angle.
Worth the wait
Toys!
Finally, making our way back downstairs we have one more exhibit, and personally it was my favorite. Toys! At my mom’s house I still have all my original barbies, 80s and 90s toys, and many retro stuffed animals. I specifically remember playing with my grandfather’s log cabin toy set and battling him in Chinese Checkers. Walking through the years of toy manufacturing history, I was transported back to Sunday school when I played with the wood alphabet blocks and felt figurines and puzzles.
The 80s and 90s were good to me, and I specifically remember going over to several friends’ homes just to play with their fun toys, trade Legos and parade my arsenal of plastic accessories. From GI Joe’s to Candyland, nothing was off limits!
Plan your visit
Overall, I was pleasantly surprised by the historical preservation put forth not only on the exterior and interior, but also to each exhibit. I thoroughly enjoyed the variety and attributes each level offered to its visitors. I learned a lot about South Dakota history that I had not known before, and museums like this are so worth your time. Enrolling in history classes, and reading books on North American antiquity is always outshined, in my opinion, by actual physical surviving artifacts.
The Old Courthouse Museum Gift shop
Pressed for time, it took me about two hours to walk through the museum at a steady pace. So, when you want to spend an afternoon in South Dakota’s largest city, make sure you give yourself ample time, and enjoy an authentic and creative history lesson at the Old Courthouse Museum.
Along with the heritage website mentioned above, visit their Facebook page (https://www.facebook.com/OldCourthouseMuseumSF/) to keep up to date with their current schedule including walking tours, concerts and special seasonal events.
Hours of Operation:
Mon – Fri: 8am to 5pm
Saturday: 9am to 5pm
Sunday: 12pm to 5pm
605-367-4210
200 W 6th Street
Sioux Falls, SD 57104
