This online calendar of events emphasizes educational, archaeological, preservation, and history related programs throughout the year across South Dakota. Green entries denote activities at the Cultural Heritage Center in Pierre. Blue entries denote off-site activities sponsored by the SD State Historical Society and/or the Heritage Fund. If you would like to submit an event to be included on the calendar, please complete and submit the following form: Events form, PDF or Events form, Word.

September 2012

Event: OUR SOUTH DAKOTA: BIG LAND | BIG IDEAS | BIG HEART Exhibit
Description: The exhibit examines the physical and mental landscapes of South Dakota, past and present. Explore the physical realities of our state and how these realities shape our attitudes and the communities we form. And, have a great time doing it! Come and measure yourself against a full-size replica of Washington’s nose from Mount Rushmore, see how many South Dakotas fit across the entire U.S., try your hand at typing on a manual typewriter. Come and experience Our South Dakota!
Location:  Cultural Heritage Center, Hogen Gallery, 900 Governors Dr., Pierre
Time: Mon.-Sat. 9 a.m. - 4:30 p.m., Sun. & Holidays* 1-4:30 p.m. CT
Admission:  Members free; Adults $4, Seniors $3, 17 & under free (Free to all on the 1st Sunday of every month)
Sponsor: South Dakota State Historical Society
Contact: 605-773-3458
* The Cultural Heritage Center is closed on New Year's Day, Easter, Thanksgiving, and Christmas.

Event: SD State Archives Open
Description: The archives is open every 1st Saturday of the month. Staff will assist you with research needs. The archives collects government and manuscript materials, along with photographs, maps, and other historic materials.
Location:  Cultural Heritage Center, 900 Governors Dr., Pierre
Date/Time: September 1, 2012; 9 a.m to 4:30 p.m. CT
Admission:  Free
Sponsor: South Dakota State Historical Society
Contact: Archives (e-mail or web), 605-773-3804

Event: Free admittance to the Museum of the SD State Historical Society
Description: Admittance to the museum is free the 1st Sunday of the month. The Museum has 15,000 square feet of exhibition space with exhibits divided into five galleries.
Location: Cultural Heritage Center, 900 Governors Dr., Pierre
Date/Time: September 2, 2012; 1- 4:30 p.m. CT
Admission:  Free
Sponsor: South Dakota State Historical Society
Contact: 605-773-3458

Event: Oahe Chapel Ecumenical Sunday Service, host:
Description: Hosted by various local churches, ecumenical services are held at the historic Oahe Chapel every Sunday from Memorial Day weekend through Labor Day weekend. The Oahe Chapel was established by Rev. Thomas L. Riggs, a Congregationalist minister, and his first wife, Cornelia Margaret “Nina” Foster, to serve as a mission to the Sioux Indians of central South Dakota. The chapel was originally located on the east bank of the Missouri River at Peoria Flats, roughly five miles upriver from its current location. It was moved to its current location in 1964 after construction of the Oahe Dam flooded the original site. The chapel is owned by the South Dakota State Historical Society and managed by the Oahe Chapel Preservation Society, which oversees its maintenance and preservation.
Location: The chapel is located adjacent to the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Visitor Center, approximately five miles north of Pierre on SD Highway 1804.
Date/Time: September 2, 2012; 8 a.m. CT
Admission: Free; Open to the public
Sponsor: Oahe Chapel Preservation Society, Pierre-Ft. Ministerial Association
Contact: Cindy Snow, 605-773-2907, cindy.snow@state.sd.us

Event: Meeting of the SD State Historical Society Board of Trustees
Location:  Cultural Heritage Center, 900 Governors Dr., Pierre
Date/Time: September 7, 2012; 8:45 a.m. CT
Contact: 605-773-3458

Event: 2012 Annual Meeting of the SD Archaeological Society
Description: Talks, tours, banquet speaker, and many other activities are planned. This meeting will be a venue for speakers to present the results of their most recent field and research work. Excavation projects, cultural history, technology and individual archaeological specialties in South Dakota will be featured. Researchers, vocational and volunteer archaeologists, teachers, students, and the public are encouraged to attend and/or present papers. This year's banquet speaker tba.
Location: to be announced (tba)
Banquet: tba
Date: tba
Schedule: tba
Registration: Early-bird deadline tba, 2012
                    Fees & online forms available by clicking here
Sponsor: SD Archaeological Society (SDAS)
Contact: tba

Event: History & Heritage Book Club - Title to be announced
Description: Program to be announced.
Location:  Cultural Heritage Center, 900 Governors Dr., Pierre
Date/Time: September 11, 2012; 7 p.m. CT
Admission: Free
Sponsor: South Dakota State Historical Society & South Dakota Historical Society Foundation
Contact: Dorinda Daniel 605-773-6006, dorinda.daniel@state.sd.us
Additional Comments: The book club meets the 2nd Tuesday of every month at the Cultural Heritage Center. Occasionally the date, time, or location my change for a special program. All books are available for purchase at the Heritage Store located in the Cultural Heritage Center and at the Capitol. The History & Heritage Book Club is open to everyone. People who want to join the discussion by telephone are welcome to do so by making arrangements in advance with Dorinda (see above).

Event: Program to be announced - Preservation Wednesday
Description: To be announced. The public is encouraged to attend.
Location: Vermillion Public Library, 18 Church St., Vermillion
Date/Time: September 19, 2012; 7 p.m. CT
Admission: Free
Sponsor: Clay County Historic Preservation Commission
Contact: Jim Wilson (e-mail or web), 605-624-4579
Additional Comments: Preservation Wednesdays are held every 3rd Wednesday of the month September through May.

Event: Program to be announced - Preservation Thursday
Description: To be announced. The public is encouraged to attend.
Location: Deadwood City Hall, 102 Sherman St., Deadwood
Date/Time: September , 2012; Noon MT
Admission: By donation
Sponsor: Deadwood Historic Preservation Commission; Adam-Mastrovich Family Foundation, Mary Adams Balmat; Rapid City Journal; Black Hills Pioneer; Celebrity Hotel; Chubby Chipmunk Hand-Dipped Chocolates; The Historic Bullock Hotel; Saloon No. 10; TDG Communications
Contact: Adams Museum (e-mail or web), 605-578-1928

Event: 20th Annual West River History Conference
Description: Program to be announced - Guest speakers, special entertainment & displays, presentation of papers, book signings, and selected rare booksellers booths will be a part of the weekend of historical activity focused on the heritage of the region.
Location: Surbeck Center, SD School of Mines & Technology, 501 St. Joseph St., Rapid City
Date/Time: September , 2012
Registration: to be announced
Sponsor: South Dakota Humanities Council, an affiliate of the National Endowment for the Humanities, the Deadwood Historic Preservation Commission, the Black Hills Corral of Westerners, International, the Society of Black Hills Pioneers, and Dode Lee
Contact: West River History Conference (e-mail or web), 605-343-4852

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