Dacotah Prairie Museum

Updates

Posted on Jan 7, 2022

Posted on Jan 3, 2022

HOLIDAY SCHEDULE:
MARTIN LUTHER KING JR DAY, Jan. 17 - CLOSED
(Special Sat. Jan. 15 hours: 1-4pm)
PRESIDENTS DAY, Feb. 21 - CLOSED
(Special Sat. Feb. 19 hours: 1-4pm)

Posted on Jan 3, 2022

Happy 2022! Let's make history together.

Posted on Dec 27, 2021

Posted on Dec 14, 2021

How many more shopping days until Christmas? Worried about getting online orders in time?
No worries! We have you covered at the DPM's Mercantile.
Tue-Fri 10-5, Sat 11-4

Posted on Dec 3, 2021

Posted on Dec 1, 2021

The Dacotah Prairie Museum Foundation is co-sponsoring a Native American Heritage Month event, along with hosts: NSU, PC & CHS NASA:
What: Take Flight with Jackie Bird & Family
Where: Johnson Fine Arts Center, Jewett Hall/Auditorium
When: Thursday, December 2nd at 6pm
Cost: FREE ADMISSION

Posted on Nov 23, 2021

After you visit the trains, pop over to the Dacotah Prairie Museum (one block south of the depot) and check out Christmas Tree Lane & Holiday Wreaths, now on display.
Special Thanksgiving Hours this weekend:
Friday 12-4pm, Saturday 1-4pm.

Testimonials

6 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

7 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

7 months ago

Very educational and informative. They always have something new going on here. The staff are friendly and quick to answer any questions.

- Nicholas W

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"