Discover
Our Prairie 

South Dakota's southeast region has so many fun, educational experiences for children of all ages!

There also are many learning activities to explore just across the border in southwest Minnesota. Below are some of the nearby attractions you may want to see after visiting the Children’s Museum of South Dakota.  

Within 30 Miles of Brookings

Historic Prairie Village

Located two miles west of Madison, South Dakota, Prairie Village has over 40 furnished buildings reliving the days of an active turn of the century main street. Visit sod and log houses, a country school, churches and one of the last remaining chapel railroad cars. Take a ride on a railroad train or on the 1889 steam-powered carousel. The site is open from Mother’s Day weekend until Labor Day.

Laura Ingalls Wilder or www.discoverlaura.org

Take a short trip from Brookings to DeSmet, South Dakota, the homestead of famed author Laura Ingalls Wilder. Visitors can spend the entire day exploring the many attractions devoted to Laura’s time in South Dakota. Visit the original Ingalls homestead, the house that Pa Ingalls built, the original Surveyors’ house from Laura’s book “By the Shores of Silver Lake”. Visitors can camp, take covered wagon rides, attend an 1880’s school session or try other pioneering activities.

Oakwood Lakes State Park

Nestled among eight connecting glacial lakes, this park provides a variety of activities throughout the year, from hiking and swimming, to ice fishing and cross-country skiing. The park also features campgrounds and picnic areas. Historically, the park was once used as a gathering spot for American Indians. The visitor center showcases an archeology display of items found in the area.

Heritage and Windpower Learning Center of Southwest Minnesota

Learn about the benefits of wind power technology in one place. Interactive computers help to educate about the turbines. Walk underneath a turbines to hear a gentle swooshing of the blades. Located in Pipestone, Minnesota, The Center is open to the public Monday through Friday. There are special hours for large groups.

Pipestone National Monument

For thousands of years, American Indians have quarried the red pipestone found at this site. These grounds are sacred to many people because the pipestone quarried here is carved into pipes used for prayer. Many believe the pipe’s smoke carries one’s prayers to the Great Spirit. The tradition continues today and visitors are invited to watch live demonstrations of pipes and crafts being carved.

Within 50 Miles of Brookings

Devil’s Gulch

Legend has it that the notorious outlaw Jesse James made a daring escape at this site located within Palisades State Park. After robbing a bank in Northfield, Minnesota, Jesse James made his way to Split Rock River. To elude the lawmen that were chasing him, Jesse jumped the 15 foot split in the rocks, now known as Devil’s Gulch, and escaped to Missouri. A small foot bridge now spans the gap of this infamous jump.

Kirby Science Center

Fly a space shuttle, touch a tornado, and play with lasers. Housed within the Washington Pavilion of Arts and Science in Sioux Falls, South Dakota, the Kirby Science Center features more than 80 hands on exhibits for science enthusiasts of all ages.

Sertoma Butterfly House

Explore the habitat of over 800 free flying butterflies from around the world. Meet scorpions, tarantulas, frogs and more. This Sioux Falls attraction is open year round.

EROS Data Center

The Center for Earth Resources Observation and Science offers guided tours Monday through Friday. Learn how EROS began and discover what they do. View a large-format camera that was actually in space, a half-scale model of the Landsat 7 Satellite and satellite imagery from around the world.

Within 100 Miles from Brookings

Fort Sisseton

Explore the grounds where the officers' quarters, stone barracks, powder magazine, guard house, and other buildings remain at frontier Fort Sisseton. This 1864 fort is a rare reminder of the western frontier. This National Historic Landmark, located near Lake City, South Dakota, is a restoration of a frontier army outpost. The fort's name comes from the nearby Sisseton Indian Tribe, and it is now a picturesque state park with campground facilities.

Mitchell Prehistoric Indian Village

The Indian Village in Mitchell, South Dakota entices visitors to imagine what it was like to live in a 1,000 year old former plains village. The Indian Village provides a link to native people who lived during the era of earth lodges and tepees and today’s American Indian communities. Visitors will have the opportunity to view an active excavation site. Discover engaging, and educational activities for the whole family. ()  

Sica Hollow State Park

These rolling hills (pronounced she-cha) were left after the last glacier receded less than 20,000 years ago. Through the centuries, these hills have become the subject of many legends. A journey through the area still reveals the natural occurrences that fueled the legends. Swamp gas and stumps glow in the dark, and small waterfalls are heard echoing as trapped air escapes. Horse trails and camping round out the activities at this National Natural Landmark.

For more information on South Dakota activities and attractions, see the South Dakota Department of Tourism.