Sioux Falls Tourist Attractions

Sioux Falls, South Dakota, offers several attractions for a fun-filled and unforgettable vacation.

Here are some top sight recommendations.

Great Plains Zoo and Delbridge Museum of National History

The Great Plains Zoo is an 18-hectare wildlife park that provides close encounters with hundreds of animals often not found in more prominent Zoos; these include giraffes, rhinos, tigers, and a group of primates.

The Association of Zoos and Aquariums accredited the Great Plains Zoo and Delbridge Museum of Natural History. The facility strives to fulfill four primary objectives: Education, Conservation, Recreation, and Discovery.

There are exciting activities you can enjoy inside the park. Watch and play with the tiger cubs at the Asian Cat exhibit.

Visit the wild rhinos, “Imara” and “Jubba” at the Rare Rhinos of Africa exhibit.

You can also feed a hungry goat, ride a hunchback camel and get up close to a sheep with six horns at Hy-Vee Face to Face Farm.

Meet and greet the playful snow monkeys in the “Monkeys, Magic and More” exhibit.

Inside the Zoo, you can also find the Delbridge Museum of Natural History, where a collection of 150 mounted animals, including 38 endangered species, are stored.

Your visit to the Zoo and Museum is not complete without stopping at Zootopia Gift Shop for souvenirs.

The wildlife park is open year-round. It is closed on Thanksgiving Day, Christmas Day, and New Year’s Day.

Butterfly House and Aquarium

Have fun and play with more than 800 free-flying butterfly species worldwide.

Get hands-on learning in Pacific Tide Pool. Discover marine diversity such as coral reefs, fishes, and other aquatic creatures at the only public saltwater aquarium in South Dakota.

Don’t forget to buy a bring-home goodie at the Fins and Flutters Gift Shop.

The Butterfly House and Aquarium is open year-round.

Falls Park, Sioux Falls

Address: 131 E Falls Park Dr, Sioux Falls, SD 57104, United States

One of the most popular tourist attractions in Sioux Falls City is Falls Park. It is a 52-hectare park located north of downtown Sioux Falls along the Big Sioux River.

It is recorded that an average of 7,400 gallons of water plunges 100 feet over the Falls’ course every second.

You can enjoy the view of the falls from different angles, including the five-story observation tower near the information center.

Falls Park is also rich in history, which explains why there are old buildings in the area.

Tourist souvenirs are available at the Visitor Information Center.

Washington Pavillion- Science Exhibit

One on the top list to visit in Sioux Falls is the Kirby Science Discovery Center in the Washington Pavillion.

Fun and exciting educational activities await parents and kids who are up for science experiments.

There are more than 100 interactive and hands-on exhibits at KSDC, from exploring outer space and experiencing rock climbing to learning about weather and making music and films.

Washington Pavillion-The Visual Arts Center

Enjoy unique and colorful art exhibits at the Washington Pavillion Visual Arts Center.

Creations of leading regional, national and international artists are stored and displayed in the eight spacious galleries of the facility.

The American Association of Museums accredits the Visual Arts Center. Its mission is to build, preserve and conserve art collections for local and international audiences.

The exhibits are shifted every few months. Lectures and artist receptions are also held in the facility throughout the year.

Washington Pavillion- Wells Fargo CineDome

Wells Fargo CineDome is a 60 feet wide movie house with a four-story screen with eight channels of digital sound from 24 audio speakers. It has 164 seats on ten-tier levels.

You will experience a realistic approach to movies through its state-of-the-art technology.

The CineDome presents various fun films to enjoy with family and friends.

South Dakota Symphony Orchestra

South Dakota Symphony Orchestra (SDSO) is dedicated to reliving traditional orchestral music through having classical and pop concerts at the Washington Pavillion throughout the region and chamber music in churches.

SDSO lives by its core values; Community Engagement, Creating Partnerships, Lifelong Impact, Educational opportunities, and Live Symphonic Music.

The orchestra was formed in 1922 in partnership with Augustana University and incorporated as the Sioux Falls Symphony in 1965.

In 1985, former Sioux Falls Governor William Janklow renamed the group as South Dakota Symphony Orchestra.

The orchestra formed a partnership with two prominent health institutions, Avera and Sanford Health. This aims to promote healing through music in a program they have produced called “Music as Medicine”.

The program now includes memories that feature a storyteller who tells a unique story of an individual.

The musical program received a National Endowment for the Arts Creativity Connects grant and is currently expanding in the Sioux Falls community.

For ticket reservations and schedules of events, you can visit their website.

Denny Sanford Premier Center

Denny Sanford Premier Center is a multi-purpose events center suitable for sports activities, concerts, conventions, business meetings, gatherings, and more.

The establishment has four-level facilities: the event, main concourse, suite, and upper level. It has 12,000 seat capacity, perfect for holding concerts and other stage performances.

It is also known that Denny Sanford is the largest venue for events in the region, in between Omaha and Fargo, and from Minneapolis to Denver.

The facility was named by its three sponsors, the First Premier Bank, Premier Bankcard, and Sanford Health, in memory and honor of Thomas Denny Sanford, founder of the Premier Bank and Premier Bankcard in Sioux Falls.

He is also known as a philanthropist who gave $400 million to establish Sioux Valley Hospital.

Sioux Falls Stadium

Sioux Falls Stadium is one of the oldest ballparks in America.

It is one of the primary facilities that has hosted baseball games for decades.

Renovations began in the late 1990s. They have refurbished the luxury box suites, expanded the picnic area, and built new ticket entrances and beautiful brick walls at the ballpark exterior.

The Stadium has a seating capacity of 4,462 fans and two levels of the separate walkway.

Sioux Falls Sports

Sioux Falls host numerous indoor and outdoor sporting events including state-wide tournaments, school sports events, professional leagues, National Collegiate Athletic Association events, and more.

Sports fans would surely love the thrill of watching various ball games at the Sioux Falls Stadium or at Denny Sanford Premier Center.

For sporting event schedules you can visit the official website of Denny Sanford Premier Center and Sioux Falls Stadium.

Cathedral of St. Joseph

The Cathedral of Saint Joseph is a Romanesque Catholic Church combined with a French Renaissance design that was constructed from 1915 to 1918.

The first mass was held on December 8, 1918.

This historic landmark has become a pillar of the Cathedral Historic District. Renovations and constant beautification of the structure have brought a lot of engagement to the metro.

A three-year renovation had been made to the Cathedral and was in full completion in 2011. It regained its original grandeur, including restoring its original color, moldings, and structure.

The Cathedral is open for self-guided and guided tours from Monday to Friday.

Tourists may also contact them at +1 605-336-7392 for further information.

Old Courthouse Museum

Address: 200 W 6th St, Sioux Falls, SD 57104, United States

Old Courthouse Museum is a National Historic Landmark in Sioux Falls that features a vintage clock tower, a restored circuit courtroom, and a law library along with 16 wall murals painted from 1915 to 1917.

The Museum opened its doors in 1974, and exhibitions in the facility focus on the natural and cultural history of the entire Sioux Falls.

It is home to the Minnehaha County Historical Society, Sioux Valley Genealogical Society Library, and The Old Courthouse Gift Shop.

The facility also hosts events such as lectures, workshops, astronomy and children’s programs, walking tours, and traditional music concerts all year-round.

The Museum offers free admission and free parking. They are also open daily.

SculptureWalk

Art sculpture lovers would love to walk through downtown Sioux Falls.

The SculptureWalk exhibits over 65 sculptures all year-round from Washington Pavillion to Falls Park.

These works of art are owned by specific artists and borrowed for one year for exhibition purposes. The public will then cast a vote for their favorite sculpture, which will receive the “People’s Choice Award.” The chosen sculpture is purchased at the end of the exhibit year and will be displayed as one of the city’s permanent collections.

Each year, the city encourages artists to participate in the SculptureWalk exhibit.

For further information, check out the SculptureWalk Visitor Center located on the 2nd level of the Washington Pavillion. They are open Monday to Saturday from 10:00 AM to 5:00 PM, and Sunday from 12:00 PM to 5:00 PM.

Arc of Dreams

The Arc of Dreams is a 15-foot stainless bar sculpture that spans like a football field across the Big Sioux River between the 6th and 8th streets of downtown Sioux Falls.

It is 85-feet above the river and it represents the leap of faith dreamers that are pursuing to see their dreams become a reality.

It is a SculptureWalk capstone and a signature piece of art for Sioux Falls City.

Thunder Road Entertainment

Enjoy indoor and outdoor fun activities with family and friends by availing of Thunder Road Entertainment.

Thunder Road has been one of the leading entertainment facilities in Sioux Falls.

They offer indoor and outdoor exciting activities for visitors of all ages.

Indoor attractions include 7D Theater, Arcade, Axe Throwing, Hyper Bowling, Spin Zone Bumper Cars, Mini-Bowling, and Laser Tag.

Outdoor attractions include Mini Golf, Go-Karts, Laser Maza Beam Buster, EuroBungy, Slick Track Go-Karts, Water Wars, Tilta Whirl, and Batting Cages.

The prices of each attraction vary.

For further pricing and package information just visit their official website.

State Theater

The State Theater in Sioux Falls is one of the iconic venues located in the downtown area. It shows films for all audiences.

Foods such as popcorn, beer, and wine are available for purchase.

The State Theater was built in 1926 during the age of silent films and variety shows. The theater dazzles in an iconic grandstand and exudes sophistication with its intricate rich decorative interior design.

The theater was also nationally known as the “movie palace”. The building has been serving the public for decades and keeps up until the present time.

The facility was closed in 1991 due to the outward migration of residents and the decline of downtown Sioux Falls.

The renovation took place in the downtown area and fund-raising efforts brought the State Theater back to life.

Frontier Climbing and Fitness

Frontier Climbing and Fitness is the largest premier climbing facility in Sioux Falls.

Tourists who are interested in fitness and health activities would surely love to visit and avail their packages.

The facility offers training programs for indoor climbing, group and personal fitness classes, and yoga.

The indoor climbing gym welcomes newcomers, experts, and first-time climbers. Enjoy over 150 routes on walls with a height of 58 feet.

Further details and information are available on their official website.

Great Shots

Learn, Eat, Party, and Play Golf with Great Shots Entertainment located at the Sanford Sports Complex, Sioux Falls.

The Sanford Sports Complex houses the Sanford Power Golf Academy and Sanford Sports Science Institute Golf Research. It has three concourse levels and 60 bays. They also host events and meetings. The facility caters to elite players and beginners alike.

Great Shots brings your golf entertainment to the next level. Enjoy modern facilities at the golf course with friends, family, and colleagues.

They are open all year round. Event bookings and tourist visits are available on their official website.

Levitt at the Falls

Enjoy a free outdoor live concert in Falls Park West.

Levitt at the Falls amphitheater features 50 free concerts every summer.

The venue can accommodate 5,000 people. There are also public restrooms in the area.

Do not forget to bring your lawn chair, or you may rent some on-site.

Food trucks and drinks are also available in the vicinity of the arena.

The Levitt at the Falls aims to build community through music.