Sioux Falls

Falls Park is 123-acre park around the falls on the Big Sioux River for which the city has been named. The falls and the spectacular nature around them have been the center of life in the area for centuries.

The remains of the 1881 seven-story Queen Bee Mill can be seen on the east side of the river, and the 1908 Sioux Falls Light and Power Company building is now the popular Falls Overlook Café. The 19 mile hiking, biking, and walking trail starts at Falls Park and makes a loop around the city.

Located on South Oxbow Avenue, the Sertoma Butterfly House & Marine Cove is an attraction that features several educational exhibits. The 3,600 square foot Butterfly House is kept at a warm 80 degrees for the 800 butterflies and the beautiful tropical garden, allowing visitors to see and admire both attractions. The butterflies come from Africa, Asia, Australia, and Central and South America. The Sertoma Butterfly House & Marine Cove is one of the best things to do in Sioux Falls, SD.

The Marine Cove, on the other hand, is the home of hundreds of species of corals and fish, and the Pacific Tide Pool houses sea anemones, sea stars, and sea urchins. The Shark & Stingray Touch Pool provides a hands-on learning experience where children can touch bamboo sharks, horn sharks, and southern stingrays. More info

4320 South Oxbow Avenue, Sioux Falls, South Dakota, Phone: 605-334-9466

Located on West Sixth Street, the Old Courthouse Museum is a historic building that served as the first Minnehaha County courthouse.

Built between 1889 and 1893 by local architect Wallace L. Dow, the building is made of native Sioux quartzite stone, a popular local building material in the late 19th century. There are many interesting and aesthetically pleasing features inside the old courthouse, including stained glass windows, tiled fireplaces, granite pillars, and slate stairs. The 16 large murals on the walls of the hallways portray early life and local nature.

The courthouse remained in use until 1962 when it was slated for demolition after a new courthouse was built. However, citizens campaigned to save the historic building, which can now be toured.

200 West Sixth Street, Sioux Falls, South Dakota, Phone: 605-367-4210

If you are traveling with kids

The Washington Pavilion of Arts and Science is an arts and science center located on South Main Avenue. Opened in 1999, the center consists of an art gallery, a concert hall, a science museum, and a large-format theater. It is housed in the renovated Washington High School, a neoclassical building whose facade is made of Sioux quartzite.

The center is home to several educational institutions such as the Community Learning Center, the Dakota Academy of Performing Arts, and the Graham Academy Preschool. Several organizations are associated with the center including the South Dakota Symphony Orchestra, the Sioux Falls Jazz & Blues Society, and several others.

301 South Main Avenue, Sioux Falls, South Dakota, Phone: 605-367-6000R

Located on South Kiwanis Avenue, the Great Plains Zoo and Delbridge Museum of Natural History is a 45-acre zoo and museum. Opened in 1963, the zoo has more than 1,000 animals like giraffes, primates, and tigers, among others. The museum displays exhibits such as Asian Cats, Birds, Bugs, and Amphibians, Flamingo Aviary, and Rare Rhinos of Africa.

There is also a petting and feeding area called the Hy-Vee Face-to-Face Farm. Educational programs include ZooCamps, ZooCub classes, Scout Programs, and many more. In the Delbridge Museum of Natural History there are 150 mounted animals, 38 of which are considered to be vanishing species.

805 South Kiwanis Avenue, Sioux Falls, South Dakota, Phone: 605-367-7003

The Outdoor Campus is an outdoor learning center located on South Oxbow Avenue. Operated by the South Dakota Game, Fish, and Parks, it teaches outdoor activities and skills such as cross-country skiing, fishing, gardening, and much more. The campus offers a wide variety of programs for both adults and children.

Adults can participate in community programs as an individual or as part of a group like a church group. For children, there are programs for homeschoolers, preschool and elementary students, and middle school students as well.

The campus also sponsors events such as the Outdoor University where family members have the opportunity to enjoy many free activities like fishing, kayaking, and touching fish, frogs, and turtles.

4500 South Oxbow Avenue, Sioux Falls, South Dakota, Phone: 605-362-2777

If you are planning to do something romantic

Terrace Park is a public park located on West Fourth Street operated by the Sioux Falls Parks and Recreation Department. The park contains many amenities and facilities and has several sports facilities such as baseball fields including miracle league ball fields, basketball courts, tennis courts, walking trails, and more.

There are access points for canoeing, fishing, and kayaking. Several sculptures, formal gardens, and Japanese gardens enhance the beauty of this park. Families and groups can take advantage of playgrounds and picnic shelters with electricity.

The Terrace Park Family Aquatic Center includes a large swimming pool, drop-off slides, a looping water slide, and a wading area.

1100 West 4th Street, Sioux Falls, South Dakota, Phone: 605-367-8222

Located on West 12th Street, the U USS South Dakota Battleship Memorial is a display that includes several relics from the historic battleship.

The outline of the hull of the ship is made of concrete, and visitors can view both the relics and several pieces of memorabilia. The ship was constructed beginning in 1939 and was launched and commissioned in 1942.

The USS South Dakota was the lead ship of its class and saw heavy action during World War II in the Pacific Ocean; two of the battles included the Battle of the Santa Cruz Islands and the Second Naval Battle of Guadalcanal. Sold as scrap metal after being decommissioned, parts of the ship were saved for this memorial.

2705 West 12th Street, Sioux Falls, South Dakota, Phone: 605-367-7141

The Cathedral of Saint Joseph is a Catholic cathedral and the seat of the Diocese of Sioux Falls. Famous architect Emmanuel Louis Masqueray designed the beautiful limestone, but he died before the cathedral was finished. Construction of the cathedral was completed in 1919, and the building underwent many later additions.

A Kilgen pipe organ was installed in 1935 and the tester and marble high altar in 1946. Beautiful French stained glass windows were installed in 1947. The cathedral has occasional organ concerts that are open to the public, as well as series of conferences on topics relevant to wider audiences, including non-Catholics.

521 N Duluth Ave, Sioux Falls, South Dakota, Phone: 605-336-7390

Veterans' Memorial Park , a public park located on West Bailey Street in Sioux Falls, commemorates the military history of the people of the local area.

After veterans' organizations and the community began developing the idea of a memorial, a committee was formed to discuss the project with the public and with designers. Eventually, a site was chosen north of Terrace Park. It was an area the U.S. Army Air Corps used during World War II.

Dedicated in 2006, the park’s amenities include military memorial and historic displays, sculptures, walking trails, and gardens. The entrance to the park consists of an amphitheater, flags, plazas, and walls.

1021 West Bailey Street, Sioux Falls, South Dakota, Phone: 605-367-8222