Animals
Black Hills Wild Horse Sanctuary Scan the horizon for the flowing manes of wild horses galloping freely through the scenic landscape, or watch them as they graze. Learn how the sanctuary helps horses that are taken from the wild but cannot be adopted. See movie sets, including the one used in Hidalgo, which was shot here. Rocky Ford Rd., Hot Springs, SD; +1 605 745 5955. Fee.
Great Plains Zoo and Delbridge Museum Twirl around a carousel on a dolphin or zebra's back, visit playful wallabies, take a train tour of animals from Africa, and crawl alongside slow-moving Galápagos tortoises. 805 South Kiwanis Ave., Sioux Falls, SD; +1 605 367 7003. Fee.
High Plains Western Heritage Center Celebrate the culture and industries of the Dakotas, Montana, Wyoming, and Nebraska. Look out over three states from the balcony. Discover what life was like for a miner or cattle rancher. See live buffalo and longhorn cattle, browse Western artwork, and learn about rodeos. 825 Heritage Dr., Spearfish, SD; +1 605 642 9378. Fee.
The Outdoor Campus Discover fascinating facts about animals at hands-on exhibits, then hike through different ecosystems. Spy on stream animals in the giant aquarium or stroll through the butterfly garden. Learn how to help protect animal habitats. 4500 S. Oxbow Ave., Sioux Falls, SD; +1 605 362 2777.
Reptile Gardens Encounter snakes, lizards, tortoises, and more. Meet a saltwater crocodile and learn what it snacks on. See poisonous snakes from different continents and compare how their venoms work on prey. Explore dense jungle vegetation in the Sky Dome. 8955 S. Hwy. 16, Rapid City, SD; +1 605 342 5873. Fee.
Sertoma Butterfly House Enter this tropical oasis and see how many colors and patterns you can spot on the wings of more than 50 types of butterflies; then check out the exhibits of tarantulas and frogs. 4320 S. Oxbow Ave., Sioux Falls, SD; +1 605 334 9466. Fee.
Tatanka—Story of the Bison Appreciate the role bison played in the lives of Native Americans in the plains states; imagine the pounding of hooves as you gaze at large sculptures depicting a Native American hunt; learn about the ways in which bison were used in daily life. 100 Tatanka Dr., Deadwood, SD; +1 605 584 5678. Fee.
Culture
Adams Museum and House Get the scoop on outlaws and legends of the Black Hills; gaze at artifacts from Native American tribes, golden loot of prospectors, and personal items that tell the colorful histories of their owners; and explore an ornate 1890s-era home. 54 Sherman St., 22 Van Buren Ave., Deadwood, SD; +1 605 578 3724. Fee for house tour.
Dakota Sunset Museum Admire massive Medicine Rock, which was sacred to the Lakota Sioux, and check out the hand- and footprints covering it. Tour replicas of pioneer homes and a schoolhouse, and view displays of antiques. 205 W. Commercial Ave., Gettysburg, SD; +1 605 765 9480.
Ingalls Homestead Visit the land where Little House On the Prairie author Laura Ingalls Wilder lived with her family. Clamber into a covered wagon pulled by horses. Perform homestead chores such as grinding wheat and shucking corn. Explore a dugout house and a historic prairie school. 20812 Homestead Rd., De Smet, SD; +1 800 776 3594. Fee.
Journey Museum Learn about South Dakota's Sioux Indians, including the foods they ate, their homes and traditions, and the clothes they wore. Look for clues about Black Hills geology in fossils and rock formations. 222 New York St., Rapid City, SD; +1 605 394 6923. Fee.
National Museum of Woodcarving Delight in the handiwork of renowned artisans at this quirky museum. See hand-whittled likenesses of Native American chiefs and wooden caricatures carved by a former Disney animator. Sign up for a four-day class and learn the tricks of the trade. Hwy. 16 W., Custer, SD; +1 605 673 4404. Fee.
National Presidential Wax Museum Revisit America's history as you view realistic historical scenes of presidential moments molded with wax. Look in on our founding fathers as they sign the Declaration of Independence. Come face to face with presidents Lincoln and Kennedy. Learn how wax is turned into sculptures. 609 Hwy. 16A, Keystone, SD; +1 605 666 4455. Fee.
Pettigrew Home and Museum Evoke the past at this 1889 Queen Anne-style mansion—home of the state's first senator—through historical photos and household items. Videos and computer exhibits show you what Sioux Falls was like during the 19th century. 131 N. Duluth Ave., Sioux Falls, SD; +1 605 367 7097.
Pioneer Auto Show and Antique Town Step into the world of vintage vehicles and cycles—more than 250—including turn-of-the-20th-century fire engines, Model T Fords, a 1950s Corvette, Thunderbirds, and Mustangs. 503 5th St., Murdo, SD; +1 605 669 2691. Fee.
Red Cloud Indian School Heritage Center Take in the work of outstanding modern Native American artists; tour an art installation based on a 1940s-style classroom; stop by in summer to attend an annual national art show featuring new artwork by Native Americans. 100 Mission Dr., Pine Ridge, SD; +1 605 867 5491.
Smith-Zimmermann Heritage Museum Experience homesteading life through a pioneer's eyes. Examine tools and equipment once used by barbers, dressmakers, firefighters, and more. Tour a collection of buggies and wagons. Look at rooms of a frontier home. 221 NE 8th St., Madison, SD; +1 605 256 5308.
South Dakota Art Museum See work by renowned South Dakota artists; browse Native American paintings, clothing, and crafts; stage a puppet show. Check for upcoming exhibits and art workshops. Medary Ave. and Harvey Dunn St., Brookings, SD; +1 605 688 5423.
South Dakota Cultural Heritage Center Follow the Lewis and Clark Expedition through the plains of South Dakota. Experience the arts and culture of the Plains Indians and relive their struggles as immigrant settlers moved in and South Dakota became a state. 900 Governors Dr., Pierre, SD; +1 605 773 3458. Fee.
South Dakota State Capitol Building Admire the marble columns, murals, and portraits adorning the state's capitol; look up at the rotunda dome; view miniatures of gowns worn by South Dakota's First Ladies since 1910; and tour the rooms where South Dakota's House of Representatives and Congress meet. 500 E. Capitol Ave., Pierre, SD; +1 605 773 3765.
World's Only Corn Palace Enter this fantasy palace made of, and decorated with, corn. View murals made of kernels, cobs, and husks, illustrating yearly themes. Celebrate new outdoor murals at the annual Corn Palace Festival. 604 N. Main, Mitchell, SD; +1 866 273 2676.
Entertainment
1880 Train Experience travel the way it was before cars or planes aboard a steam train as it weaves among hills and through dense forests. See 19th-century locomotives restored to their former glory. 222 Railroad Ave., Hill City, SD; +1 605 574 2222. Fee.
South Dakota Hall of Fame Learn about noteworthy South Dakotans, from Sioux Chief Sitting Bull to television anchor and journalist Tom Brokaw. Grab a seat in the Wells Fargo Theater to view a film on the state. Trace South Dakota's Native American heritage at exhibits of ceremonial attire and more. 1480 S. Main St., Chamberlain, SD; +1 605 234 4216.
History
1880 Town Step back in history at this Wild West town created in the 1970s for a film and now featuring antiques and remains from area buildings. Stop in at the saloon for a sarsaparilla soda and visit the Vanishing Prairie Museum to learn prairie history. Exit 170, I-90, Murdo, SD; +1 605 344 2236. Fee.
Agricultural Heritage Museum Discover Native American techniques to farm land. Tour a collection of tractors from various historical periods. Visit a homesteader's claim shanty from 1882. 925 11th St., Brookings, SD; +1 605 688 6226.
Big Thunder Gold Mine Grab your hard hat to explore the tunnels of this 1890s-era mine. See original equipment and machinery used to extract gold from rock, and learn techniques used by turn-of-the-century miners. Then try your luck panning for gold. 604 Blair St., Keystone, SD; +1 800 314 3917. Fee.
Black Hills Mining Museum Compare past and present-day mining tools and techniques in a replica mine, then pan for nuggets of gold. Learn about different minerals and how mining has impacted the region's landscape and history. 323 W. Main St., Lead, SD; +1 605 584 1605. Fee for mine tour.
Borglum Historical Center Hear the story of the man who created Mount Rushmore, sculptor Gutzon Borglum; watch original newsreels from the 1920s and '30s; size up Mount Rushmore's actual scale as you stand next to a replica of the carving of Abraham Lincoln's eye. 342 Winter St., Keystone, SD; +1 605 666 4448. Fee.
Broken Boot Gold Mine Navigate the underground tunnels of a historic mine. Hear tales of the dangerous quest for gold in the Black Hills. Check out antique mining tools and learn how they were used. Put your newfound knowledge to the test by panning for your own gold. 1200 Pioneer Way, Deadwood, SD; +1 605 578 1876. Fee.
Crazy Horse Memorial and Indian Museum of North America Stare up at the majestic stone profile of Lakota warrior Crazy Horse. At the nearby Indian Museum of North America, view artwork, clothing, tribal flags, and housing styles of different Native American Tribes. Learn about the sculptor behind the Crazy Horse Memorial. 12151 Ave. of the Chiefs, Crazy Horse, SD; +1 605 673 4681. Fee.
Dacotah Prairie Museum Peek into the pages of South Dakota's history; visit the past as you view vintage household items and personal belongings—art, jewelry—of immigrants from different cultures. Exhibits include a mimeograph machine, musical instruments, an iron lung, and more. 21 S. Main St., Aberdeen, SD; +1 605 626 7117.
DC Booth Historic National Fish Hatchery Learn about the history of fisheries and how they have changed over the years. Examine a train that carried fish as passengers. Tour the hatchery's exhibits and peer at schools of trout through underwater windows. 423 Hatchery Circle, Spearfish, SD; +1 605 642 7730.
Fort Sisseton Historic State Park Learn about historic confrontations between 19th-century settlers and Native Americans at this fort from the mid-1800s. Tour preserved barracks, a guardhouse, and living areas once used by soldiers and doctors. Check the calendar for holiday celebrations, festivals, and historical reenactments here. 11907 434th Ave., Lake City, SD; +1 605 448 5474. Fee.
The Mammoth Site In summer, peer over the shoulders of archaeologists and paleontologists as they work at this dig site to unearth evidence of prehistoric life. Learn about the massive woolly mammoth and other ancient creatures that lived in the area, and learn how fossils and minerals shed light on the past. 1800 Hwy. 18 Bypass, Hot Springs, SD; +1 605 745 6017. Fee.
Mount Rushmore National Memorial Stand at the foot of Mount Rushmore and gaze up at the magisterial features of presidents George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, Abraham Lincoln, and Teddy Roosevelt. Walk the Avenue of Flags, then find everything you ever wanted to know about this site at the Lincoln Borglum Museum. Hwy. 244, Keystone, SD; +1 605 574 2523.
Museum of Wildlife, Science, and Industry Peruse an impressive cross-section of South Dakota history preserved in artifacts housed in the museum's 24 buildings. View farm tools, wedding gowns, horse-drawn buggies, and more. 760 W. Hwy. 12, Webster, SD; +1 605 345 4751.
Oahe Dam Begin at the visitors center overlooking Lake Oahe to learn about the lake's history, the local ecosystem, and the building of the Oahe Dam. In summer, tour the dam and powerhouse to find out how millions of gallons of rushing water create electricity used in five states. 28563 Powerhouse Rd., Pierre, SD; +1 605 224 5862.
Old Courthouse Museum Meander three stories of ever-changing exhibits that focus on different aspects of the region's past. Stop in for musical performances, special children's activities, and a variety of workshops, including photo preservation and card games. Or just admire the architecture and artwork of this restored quartzite building. 200 W. 6th St., Sioux Falls, SD; +1 605 367 4210.
Pioneer Historical Museum Steep yourself in rural life as it was before the days of modern technology; examine tools, furniture, and medical equipment used by 1800s-era settlers; see examples of early photographs taken in the Black Hills. 300 N. Chicago St., Hot Springs, SD; +1 605 745 5147. Fee.
President's Park Pose next to the towering faces of U.S. presidents, from George Washington to Bill Clinton. Stroll past impressive busts of each of the leaders, pausing to read fun and obscure facts about the men and their wives. Hwy. 85, Exit 14A, Lead, SD; +1 605 584 9925. Fee.
South Dakota Air and Space Museum Visit this museum, located in an aircraft hangar on Ellsworth Air Force Base, to see military aircraft from past wars, find out how missiles are launched, tour a real missile silo, even watch a re-creation of an actual missile launch. 2890 Davis Dr., Rapid City, SD; +1 605 385 5189.
South Dakota National Guard Museum Get an up-close look at a real Sherman Tank and an A-7-D jet. Learn about the conflicts and peacekeeping missions that have involved U.S. troops since the Civil War. Focus on South Dakota's role in each of these conflicts. 301 E. Dakota Ave., Pierre, SD; +1 605 224 9991.
USS South Dakota Battleship Memorial and Museum Get to know the thrilling history of one of the most famous WWII battleships by viewing a full-scale replica of the ship, complete with its original anchor. In the museum, see the ship's radar screen and artifacts from its crew. Pay tribute to the triumphs and sacrifices of WWII soldiers that sailed aboard this much-decorated vessel. Sherman Park, 12 St. and Kiwanis Ave., Sioux Falls, SD; +1 605 367 7141.
Nature
Badlands National Park Take in the rugged buttes, rock spires, and fossil-laden formations that put this park on the map. Join an informative ranger-guided hike to learn about prairie geology and ecology; the park includes one of the major tracts of mixed-grass prairie in the U.S. In summer, catch evening presentations on astronomy, Native American culture, and prairie biology at the amphitheater. Oh, and try to count the many stars in the clear nighttime sky. 25216 Ben Reifel Rd., Interior, SD; +1 605 433 5361. Fee.
Bear Butte State Park Hike to the peak of this lone mountain where Native Americans have come for centuries to pray and give offerings. Enjoy peace and quiet as you gaze at the scenic landscape. E. Hwy. 79, Sturgis, SD; +1 605 347 5240. Fee.
Black Hills Caverns Discover how underground caves form; check out dazzling mineral formations; sift through pebbles and mineral-laden water to find your own sparkling gemstones. Hwy. 44, Rapid City, SD; +1 605 343 0542. Fee.
Black Hills National Forest Escape to this 1.2-million-acre woodland sanctuary for a camping trip or day hike; scan the hills for elk, mountain goats, deer, and more on the Norbeck Wildlife Preserve, located within the forest; hike to the lookout tower atop 7,242-foot-high Harney Peak and gaze into neighboring states. 1019 N. 5th St., Custer, SD; +1 605 673 9200.
Jewel Cave National Monument Navigate one of the longest caves on Earth. Spot unique calcite formations, such as crystals, droplets, and sheets. Learn about the bats living in and around the caves. 11149 Hwy. 16, Custer, SD; +1 605 673 2288.
McCrory Gardens Stroll paths around more than 50 acres of gardens and lakes; get lost in the children's hedge maze; admire different colors of stone in the rock garden; watch butterflies flutter by in the Butterfly Garden. 6th St. and 22nd Ave., Brookings, SD; +1 605 688 5921.
Petrified Forest of the Black Hills Run your fingers over petrified logs from prehistoric times. Learn how wood becomes petrified, check out different gemstones and minerals, and discover the field of geology. 8228 Elk Creek Rd., Piedmont, SD; +1 605 787 4560. Fee.
Sand Lake National Wildlife Refuge Spot pelicans, gulls, geese, and herons in the wetlands and pools of this peaceful nature preserve. Learn about local ecosystems and the wildlife that inhabit them. Identify fauna on a nature hike, scan the landscape from an observation tower, take an auto tour of the refuge. 39650 Sand Lake Dr., Columbia, SD; +1 605 885 6320.
Wind Cave National Park Explore different parts of Wind Cave—one of the oldest caverns in the world—on a guided tour by lantern or candlelight; join up with a ranger for hikes around the area; learn about local wildlife, geology, and park history. 26611 Hwy. 385, Hot Springs, SD; +1 605 745 4600.
Wylie Park Plan for an afternoon at this 210-acre recreational park to enjoy a variety of attractions, from Storybook Land—where you can play in a castle, enjoy a romp in the Three Bears' cabin, or cross Billy Goats Gruff Bridge—to fields for softball and Frisbee, trails for walking, and a fish-stocked lake popular for paddleboating. Hwy. 281, Aberdeen, SD; +1 605 626 7015.
Science
Black Hills Museum of Natural History Gape at the menacing bones of a tyrannosaurus named Stan; examine meteorites that plummeted to Earth; learn about the geology of South Dakota; and see evidence of ancient plants and animals. Fee. 117 Main St., Hill City, SD; +1 605 574 4505.
Museum of Geology Learn about the minerals of South Dakota and how rock and mineral formations occur. Check out ancient fossils, and see rocks from different countries—and from outer space. 501 E. St. Joseph St., Rapid City, SD; +1 605 394 2467.
South Dakota Discovery Center Peer into aquariums to spot native Missouri River fish, experiment with light and electricity, and visit an underground tunnel to see how animals and insects live under a tree. 805 W. Sioux, Pierre, SD; +1 605 224 8295. Fee.