Bringing students to Pierre this winter to observe the state legislature? Discover hands-on history at the Cultural Heritage Center, home of the Museum of the South Dakota State Historical Society, located northeast of the State Capitol at 900 Governors Drive.

With a museum visit, students can gain insight into the state history that informs the legislature’s work. The South Dakota Experience galleries tell the story of the state from American Indian life before the arrival of Europeans in the 1700s through the end of the 20th Century.

On display now in the Hogen Gallery is “South Dakota’s Wardrobe: Selected Pieces from the Collection.” This exhibit of clothing from the 1800s to the 2000s features a famous pheasant dress (pictured) made by an Aberdeen woman in 1939.

Go upstairs to the Observation Gallery for a spectacular view of the State Capitol Complex and city of Pierre. The current exhibit in that gallery, “Where the Wild Things Grow in South Dakota,” tells how native plants have been used for food, medicinal, and religious purposes.

Visitors can see (and in some cases, even touch) artifacts from our state’s past. To schedule a free tour, guided or self-guided, contact Jeff Mammenga at Jeff.Mammenga@state.sd.us or 605-773-6000. Museum hours are 9 a.m.-4:30 p.m. CT, Monday-Saturday and 1-4:30 p.m. CT on Sundays. For more information, visit the museum’s website. There is now free admission for South Dakota adults, so you are also encouraged to bring your families in for a visit!