Dacotah Prairie Museum

Updates

Posted on Apr 29, 2022

Now hiring an office assistant, part-time, for the Dacotah Prairie Museum. Applications through the Brown County Human Resources department, click ...

Learn more

Posted on Apr 27, 2022

A special "mom" in your life? You can make a paper rose for them! Sat. May 7 at the DPM. #HappyMothersDay2022

Posted on Apr 11, 2022

You are invited to a Gallery Open House for the Dakota Student Art Exhibition: The John Sieh Legacy.
When: Wed. April 20, 4-8pm
Where: 2nd floor auditorium, ARCC (225 3rd Ave SE)
See over 100 pieces of student artwork from 17 North & South Dakota schools. Support student art!

Posted on Apr 1, 2022

It's April Fools Day! And that means our annual April Fools (all month long) Seek & Find in the museum exhibits.
Stop by and find the hidden letter tiles in the exhibits. unscramble the letters for secret phase.
A treat at the front desk awaits for everyone that completes the puzzle! Have fun!

Posted on Mar 30, 2022

Our museum gift shop, The Mercantile, is thriving!
Stop by and check out our inventory of books (local interest & authors), vintage toys, gifts, South Dakota & Aberdeen items, postcards, cards and right now featuring Peanuts products promoting our summer traveling exhibit "Snoopy & the Red Baron...

Posted on Mar 25, 2022

New Pop-Up Exhibit!

Posted on Mar 7, 2022

MONDAYS IN MARCH ART WORKSHOPS FOR ELEMENTARY SCHOOL AGED CHILDREN
FREE REGISTRATION
Art workshop for school-age children, ages 6-13. In conjunction with current exhibit "Forgotten Spaces" an architectural theme.
CLICK BUTTON FOR REGISTRATION LINK

Posted on Feb 16, 2022

Testimonials

3 months ago

Excellent staff with a variety of exhibits of Brown County, Snow Queen and Native American history.

- Dave S

10 months ago

What fun this free museum is! We took our four young kids here for a Saturday afternoon and had a blast! We stayed until they closed and our kid still didn't want to leave! They have a room full of taxidermied animals with colorful realistic background that makes them look alive! There is a lot of interesting historical facts in exhibits. They have hands on kids rooms where kids can pretend they were living on the frontier. They have travelling exhibits that are a lot of fun as well and very kid-friendly. We have seen one on dinosaurs and one on castles. I habe taken classes here for tours and those are always well done.

- Valerie D

11 months ago

I'm probably prejudiced since I grew up near Aberdeen, but I love this museum that gives the history of the area. It's not extravagant, but the docents are very nice, and the exhibits are well kept. The building itself is historical. I will go there every time I get "home", which is every few years.

- Rob E

About us

Our Mission:
The Dacotah Prairie Museum’s mission is to facilitate conversation of the prairie and its people, cultivate insight, and curate its collections as a catalyst for inter-generational exchanges to inspire children, connect families, and build community through education, programming, exhibits, and its collections.
Adopted May 26, 2015

Our Vision:
The Dacotah Prairie Museum, a non-profit, permanent learning center in service to all people, is committed to the continued growth of its collection of material evidence representing the ongoing history of its region. This collection will be used by present and future generations to study and interpret the lives and accomplishments of previous generations inhabiting the Dakota Prairie. Through these endeavors the Museum will continue to advance itself as a cultural, educational and economic asset to South Dakota.
Adopted November 18, 2008

Our Values
Respect: For people, their stories, their artifacts
Excellence: In personal and institutional performance
Achievement: Through timely accomplishment of stated goals
Responsibility: To ourselves, to each other, to the institution and to the public
Fairness: In judgment and decision making
Integrity: In preservation and presentation
Adopted November 18, 2008

Our Tagline:
To preserve and share the stories of the Dakota Prairie and its inhabitants.

"Things to do in Aberdeen, SD"