Minnehaha County Historical Society

Mission Statement:

The Purpose of the MINNEHAHA COUNTY HISTORICAL SOCIETY is to study and record the history and development of Minnehaha County: educating its members and the public on the rich heritage of the people and the land of Minnehaha County (SD). More > >

News

Membership DUES took affect in January, 2023 so please join now or renew now or in January 2025.
MCHS is asked for donations, with the goal of $15,000, to repair the Pioneer Memorial. The monument was erected in 1949 and is located on what was then U.S. Highway 77 and Cliff Avenue. It remains popular as a stopping site to visit and overlook the city. It is much in need of repairs and reconditioning to bring the historic obelisk back to its original condition. Repairs began the end of April.

The next stage for the Pioneer Memorial is a security system so please continue to donate to the fund. More details to come.

For additional news, please check our News page.

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"The New Marker Man"

For years, Bruce Blake was known to anyone who had any interest in regional history as the original “Marker Man”. In the early 1980s Bruce started a program devoted to erecting historical markers in and around Sioux Falls. Today, there are nearly 250 throughout Minnehaha County thanks to Bruce’s initiative and determination. Like anything else that has had to stand the test of South Dakota’s broad range of weather conditions. Over time many of the historical markers have come to look “well weathered”. Fortunately for us a new “Marker Man” has come forward. Jim Carlson, a long-time member of the Minnehaha County Historical Society and current Historical Marker Chairman has been experimenting with some marker restoration processes and is finding a great deal of success. “We want people to know what happened in the past, so markers are placed close to wherever things did happen. The markers are basically about either people, places or events that happened,” says Jim. Seeing is believing as exhibited by the before and after images of the Martin Luther King marker below. Jim heads up a small group of volunteers rolling up their sleeves to restore these markers. He says about half of the markers could use some work. Says Jim, “Anyone who would like to join our group should just let me know.” He added, “It would be a great community project for any individual, family or organization that is interested.” Jim can be reached at (605)366-8403

Events

2025

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May

Joint History Talk with

Sioux Valley Genealogical Society

OLD COURTHOUSE MUSEUM

A History Forum

“ Roots & Foundations”

May 15, 2025

6:00 PM Social / 6:30 PM Introductions /7:00 PM History Talk

Resource Tables: MCHS & SVGS Sioux Valley Genealogical Society

SHM Resource Center,

The Mayflower Society, Colonial Dames XVIIC, OLLI,

Mary Chilton DAR (sponsor) /Geni-Gals, SDSDAR , Order of Cloak and Dagger,

NSDOAF (National Society Descendants Of American Farmers),

Jamestowne Descendants, South Dakota Genealogical Society, & more

History Talk:

“The Eve of Destruction: Downtown Sioux Falls in the age of Urban Renewal “

with Kevin Ganz, Curator of Education with the Siouxland Heritage Museums

Kevin will share stories of the impacted buildings & people who owned them

MCHS sponsored the Charles B Lansing Memorial event.

the MCHS secured the headstone through the VA .

the Mary Chilton DAR Foundation grant funded the foundation & service costs.

Hands on credit goes to Kendall Johnson Sexton of the Hartford Cemetery, Gibson Family Memorials, Hartford Building Center, Miller Funeral Home, Doc Nik’s Flowers, Buffalo Ridge Brewing, Downtown Hartford Inc., Hartford Methodist Church Pastor Seth LaBounty, American Legion Urban Hanson Post #118, Scouts BSA Troop 8 Hartford & Humboldt,

13th US Infantry Co. D & Bill Hoskins, director of Siouxland Heritage Museums.

MCHS supports the Downtown Hartford Inc. event

May 6, 2023 Hartford, SD United Methodist Church

7:00 pm - 9:00pm Free & Open to the Public

Bob Yapp Presents:

"Preservation Doesn't Cost---It Pays"

MCHS-sponsored historic photos have been installed in the lobby of the State Theatre in Downtown Sioux Falls! Four black and white photos, two of the original 1926 lobby, and two of the original 1926 theatre auditorium can be viewed.