From Mitchell, SD
(Click on Pics to Enlarge)
On our final day in Mitchell, SD we drove over to the campus of Dakota Wesleyan University to tour the Dakota Discovery Museum. The museum has been welcoming guests for 75 years. Today's exhibits show artifacts from Native Americans dating from the 1600's to the pioneers of the region up until the 1930's.
Many interesting exhibits are on display. This is a typical "claims" cabin of the era when settlers came to this territory to establish their land claims. Notice the very small size.
The museum also houses four art galleries featuring works by Harvey Dunn, James Earle Fraser, Oscar Howe, and Charles Hargens. A large area is devoted to Charles Hargens and his actual studio was disassembled and re-constructed inside the museum. You can read more about his life and work
here.
Here is a sheep herder's living quarters (wagon).
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Interior of Sheep Herders "Home"
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Next to the museum stands several structures which were moved to their present locations to show life in the "Middle Border". This name was given to this area of our country as the east and west met. One of these structures is the Beckwith House. It is a beautifully preserved grand Italianate style home built in 1886 for Louis and Mary Beckwith. Mr. Beckwith was one of the co-founders of the Corn Palace in Mitchell.
Another building is the Sheldon School House. It was constructed in 1884 and also served as a community center.
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| Karen catching up on her studies |
Located beside the Sheldon School is the Farwell Church. The church was completed in 1908 and has been restored to the 1908 time period.
For train enthusiasts, there is the relocated Dimock depot. It was originally located approximately 16 miles south of Mitchell before being relocated here. This depot building was built in 1914.
There is much more to see inside the Dakota Discovery Museum and certainly worth the admission price of $7 for adults, $6 for seniors, or $3 for youths. Who would have guessed that there was so much to see in Mitchell, SD. This is just one of the reasons we love the fulltiming lifestyle.
Thanks for stopping by to take a look!
Another interesting place to stop and see. We must have been in a hurry when we drove through. Although we did stop at the Cabellas there.
ReplyDeleteSome day I hope to go West with months to spend rather than weeks so we can behave a little more like full timers.
ReplyDeleteLarry, I thought you were retired. Get out here and spend some time!
DeleteVery impressive that Karen is continuing her studies while on the road! :cD
ReplyDeleteYes, shes "going back to school" now.
DeleteI know the Corn Palace, but this is a new one!
ReplyDeleteGary
Gary, it was actually pretty interesting. Not bad for a small town museum.
DeleteYep, another place to visit when we get there.
ReplyDeleteWhen I lived in Idaho in the late 1960's and early 70's, one could still see sheep herders in their covered wagons. Most were drawn by small Ford tractors. I did see a couple that were still pulled by a team of horses or mules. Many of the herders in Idaho were Basque from the Basque Region of Spain. They come over on a 2 year visa to herd sheep. Many of them never make it into town again until they leave. I had to stop several times for herds crossing the road.
ReplyDeletePlease be careful on the road.
Rex
Rex, that's some pretty cool information. I doubt that many are herding in these wagons anymore. Maybe RVs now. LOL
DeleteI love the old West!
ReplyDeleteVery interesting post. Those small town museums can often surprise you. We seem always to be in a state or national park and don't get to visit them often. So thanks for the tour.
ReplyDelete