Events

Oct 11

Dancers, singers, artisans, He Sapa Win pageant, wellness symposium, hand games, and golf.

Mar 23

For over 600 years, stringed keyboard instruments have served as repositories for human imagination, science, technology, craft, artistry, and music. They are admired for their stature – and oftentimes stunning beauty – alongside their ability to play both melody and harmony. Keyboard innovation has continuously expanded throughout the world, throughout time.



Opening in March 2024, the special exhibition “High Strung: Five Centuries of Stringed Keyboard Instruments” will explore the form, function and development of keyboard instruments from early harpsichords to the modern piano. The special exhibition brings together nearly 20 keyboard instruments from the NMM’s collections - some of which have never before been on exhibit.



Instruments that will be on display include:


• An octave virginal (NMM 4660), from the same workshop as the NMM’s Neapolitan harpsichord, c.1530 (NMM 14408)

• A highly decorated harpsichord by Andreas Ruckers, 1643 (NMM 10000)

• Harpsichord by Nicolas Dufour, 1683 (NMM 5943, pictured below), made in Paris in a native style that fell from popularity by the first decade of the 18th century

• French grand piano, Clavecin à marteaux, (harpsichord with hammers) by Louis Bas (NMM 4653) from 1781. This instrument, the earliest surviving French grand piano, is exceptional, retaining much of its original action parts

• Downward-striking piano by Nanette Streicher und Sohn (NMM 10298), and a small trapezoid hammer instrument by Gottfried Maucher (NMM 4570) – an example of a lesser-known instrument type, similar to the tangentenflugel by Späth and Schmahl, built c.1784 (NMM 4145), which was once a favorite instrument type of Mozart

• Grand piano by Erard (NMM 5984) and Chickering & Sons (NMM 5413), built at a time in which America led the way in piano technology, not only with grand pianos, but also with the large ”square” pianos by makers such as William Knabe & Company (NMM 14447)



“High Strung: Five Centuries of Stringed Keyboard Instruments” will open to the public on March 23, 2024 in the NMM’s Jason & Betsy Groves Special Exhibition Gallery. It will remain open through the calendar year. Support for the exhibition is provided by generous grants from the Clayton and Odessa Lang Ofstad Foundation and the City of Vermillion, SD.

Fee: $Included with Museum Admission

Sep 14

Mazing Acres is a charming autumn destination nestled in the heart of the Midwest. Spread across sprawling acres of picturesque farmland, visitors can delight in picking their own pumpkin from the you-pick pumpkin patch. Beyond pumpkins, Mazing Acres boasts an array of family-friendly activities, including a corn maze, hayride, flower field, petting zoo, attractions, and so much more. Don't miss out on their signature kettle corn or milk shakes. Plus, with some of the best photo ops around you'll be capturing memories of your visit to cherish for years to come. Whether you're searching for the perfect pumpkin or simply looking to soak up the seasonal spirit, Mazing Acres offers a delightful escape into the beauty of fall in South Dakota.

Discover a destination where natural beauty and exciting festivities come together. Whether you want a fun autumn outing for you and your girlfriends or a unique fall festival experience for the whole family, we have something for everyone. Come enjoy over 30 attractions, pumpkins, flowers, photo ops, and so much more! Visit us at Mazing Acres for life-long memories you'll cherish forever. 

Fee: $18.95

Sep 19

Our Little STEAMers Preschool is based on the Montessori principles that children learn best when they are given the freedom to move, to choose their own work, and follow their interests, operating within boundaries that include respect for themselves, others, and their environment. In Little STEAMers Preschool students learn through guided exploration and build skills with independent hands-on learning. Using Montessori methods, our teachers progress students’ exploration skills and use a complete preschool curriculum to develop students’ understanding of STEM concepts (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics) and communication (language arts & literacy).

Fee: $1,064.25 per semester for South Dakota Discovery Center Members

Sep 12

Our Little STEAMers Preschool is based on the Montessori principles that children learn best when they are given the freedom to move, to choose their own work, and follow their interests, operating within boundaries that include respect for themselves, others, and their environment. In Little STEAMers Preschool students learn through guided exploration and build skills with independent hands-on learning. Using Montessori methods, our teachers progress students’ exploration skills and use a complete preschool curriculum to develop students’ understanding of STEM concepts (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics) and communication (language arts & literacy).

Fee: $693 per semester for South Dakota Discovery Center Members

Aug 27

Together, we strive to create a society of CURIOUS, SCIENTIFICALLY LITERATE, and ENGAGED problem solvers. You can be a critical part in fulfilling our vision by finding your volunteer focus below. Come in during volunteer hours to learn how you can help!

Aug 22

Together, we strive to create a society of CURIOUS, SCIENTIFICALLY LITERATE, and ENGAGED problem solvers. You can be a critical part in fulfilling our vision by finding your volunteer focus below. Come in during volunteer hours to learn how you can help!

Oct 13

Come celebrate fall with us at McCrory Gardens!

Oct 13

Exciting News from Riverview Christmas Tree Farm!
This year, our beloved Pumpkin Festival is bigger and better than ever! Join us for a day filled with fun, laughter, and unforgettable memories.
NEW THIS YEAR: Get ready for our giant pumpkin cannon and apple cannons – watch as we launch pumpkins and apples into the sky! Plus, don’t miss out on the thrilling mining sleuth adventure!
Of course, we’re keeping all your favorite activities! Enjoy pumpkin picking, sip on local South Dakota wines and fall brews at our beer garden, and meet our adorable farm animals.
Kids will love our pumpkin painting, inflatables, train rides, and the ever-popular duck races! There will be tons of games, delicious concessions, caramel apples, cotton candy, and so many other tasty goodies. And let’s not forget our fall crafts and decor to get you in the autumn spirit!
Mark your calendars and join us for a fantastic fall celebration at Riverview Christmas Tree Farm!

Oct 13

Hoop dancing, drumming, and a script reading presented in the Lakota language highlight this year’s cultural demonstrations at Wind Cave National Park on Sunday, October 13th, in honor of Native Americans’ Day.

“The National Park Service and tribal artists extend an invitation to learn about the lives and the traditions of tribal members in our local area and experience native expressions through art,” said Acting Superintendent Rhonda Schier. “Cultural demonstrations that invite active participation will begin under the tent on the visitor center lawn at 11 a.m. and continue throughout the day.”

After a brief welcome from the park's Superintendent at 11 am, Indigenous actors at will present a staged reading as written in the Lakota language with captions projected in English. The performance will be followed by a question-and-answer session with the actors and the Oglala Lakota storyteller and playwright Markie Bear Eagle whose spoken word poetry has been seen in short films and animation.

At 12:30 pm, cultural educators and world-renowned hoop dancers Starr Chief Eagle and Jasmine Bell who will teach the interpretations of their dances that tell stories about nature, humanity, and personal journeys. The dance is accompanied by Native American drumming which serves as a bridge between the earthly and the spiritual as heard at powwows and ceremonies.

Native American artists will provide demonstrations at tented areas, teach about traditional arts and Native American expression, and offer items for sale.

Throughout the day visitors are encouraged to view the new exhibits recently installed in the Wind Cave visitor center. These exhibits tell an inclusive story of the land and the people who have called the Black Hills home since time immemorial. The exhibits are a blend of traditional cultural knowledge and current scientific research, beginning with the Lakota origin story and ending with research supporting NASA’s search for life on other worlds.

A virtual cave tour is available daily in the visitor center auditorium to showcase the cave features and tour route while the elevators are being replaced. Completion is expected in December when cave tours will resume.

Participants are encouraged to bring picnic lunches so they may stay on site and enjoy a bond with nature in the beautiful surroundings of the park. Picnic tables are available across from the visitor center and at the nearby picnic ground with its own parking area.

The Native Americans’ Day Celebration is free and appropriate for all ages. Funding for this event is provided by the Black Hills Parks and Forests Association, a non-profit partner with Wind Cave National Park.