The
Cultural Heritage Center is a magnificent building in Pierre. In its
underground setting, South Dakota history has been carefully interpreted and
the state’s historical documents and objects have been safely protected and
stored for 30 years.
Gov.
George S. Mickelson, First Lady Linda Mickelson and other dignitaries broke
ground for the 63,000-square-foot center on May 1, 1987. It was completed in
early 1989 and dedicated in November of that year as a lasting legacy of South
Dakota’s centennial. South Dakota became a state on Nov. 2, 1889.
Many
people associate the Cultural Heritage Center with a world-class museum, but it
offers more than that. It houses a whole team of people dedicated to preserving
South Dakota’s past in a variety of ways.
As
headquarters of the South Dakota State Historical Society, the Cultural
Heritage Center houses administrative, research and publishing, archives, historic
preservation, and museum operations. The South Dakota Historical Society
Foundation, the fundraising arm of the Society, also maintains offices in the
Cultural Heritage Center. The Archaeological Research Center, operated by the
State Historical Society, is located in Rapid City.
The
South Dakota Historical Society Press publishes award-winning books on the
history and heritage of the Northern Great Plains -- from scholarly works to
picture books designed to engage children with the past. The Press’ biggest popular
success thus far was the publication of “Pioneer Girl: The Annotated
Autobiography of Laura Ingalls Wilder,” which made the New York Times Best
Seller list.
The
Press also publishes the State Historical Society’s journal, “South Dakota
History,” which members of the Society receive quarterly.
The
State Archives collects and makes available records which have permanent
historical and research value. Genealogists visit the archives to use the
records to learn their family history. Researchers and scholars use the
archival collections to write articles, books and theses. Business owners, students
and authors use historical photographs from the archives in their buildings’
décor, school projects and books. The records have also been instrumental in
court cases, resolving land ownership disputes and ensuring that citizens
receive the benefits to which they are entitled.
The
archives contains 20,000 cubic feet of records, including private collections,
state and local government documents, rare books, audio and video recordings,
1.2 million photographs, 12,000 maps and more than 2 million files of digital
materials.
Business
owners and homeowners sometimes have questions about their historic properties.
“How can I protect my grandparents’ homestead from being destroyed?” “I hear
preserving my old wood windows is better than replacing them with vinyl
windows. Why is that and how can it be done?” “The porch on my 1932 house is
collapsing. Do you have any money to help me fix it?” “Family stories say
American Indians used to camp in what is now our pasture. Now some stranger
wants to dig it up. What should we do?”
The
State Historic Preservation Office or SHPO in the Cultural Heritage Center can
help.
The
SHPO implements the National Historic Preservation Act in South Dakota. The basis
of the Act is the National Register of Historic Places, a program of the
National Park Service which helps protect America’s historic resources. The
SHPO staff helps owners determine if their property is eligible for listing in
the National Register of Historic Places and, if so, can assist them in getting
it listed. Those properties listed are eligible for a variety of financial
incentives such as Deadwood Fund grants, the state property tax moratorium
program and federal Historic Tax Credits.
SHPO
is also responsible for protecting South Dakota’s historical properties and
sites by reviewing any federal, state, or locally supported project which may
have the potential to damage these important cultural and historical resources.
Most
people think of the Cultural Heritage Center as the museum. It is the most
evident aspect of the building. It features temporary exhibits in the Hogen and
Observation galleries, along with the primary exhibit “The South Dakota
Experience.” They bring to life South Dakota’s history from earliest
inhabitants to current day. The museum collection contains more than 34,000
objects that focus on South Dakota’s history -- from the Great Sioux Horse
Effigy to political buttons.
“History
Explorer” backpacks for youngsters make for a fun, family-friendly museum
experience. The monthly Family Fun Saturday programs are a way children and
adults can come to the Cultural Heritage Center to make a history-related craft
together.
Although
the Cultural Heritage Center is in Pierre, the State Historical Society offers
services throughout the state. In
addition to a catalog of books on South Dakota history, the Society presents
off-site programming to groups and provides field service consultation and
training for those needing professional assistance.
Through www.history.sd.gov,
nearly 35,000 photographs and maps are available on-line and instant access is
provided to collection indexes.
Businesses, community groups and schools can rent suitcase education
kits and traveling exhibits. A
fourth-grade South Dakota history curriculum is accessible at www.sd4history.com and is available to anyone interested
in learning more about the state’s history.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
This moment in South Dakota history is provided by the South Dakota
Historical Society Foundation, the nonprofit fundraising partner of the South
Dakota State Historical Society at the Cultural Heritage Center in Pierre. Find
us on the web at www.sdhsf.org. Contact us at info@sdhsf.org to submit a story idea.
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