Falls Park
Sioux Falls, South Dakota
The waterfalls on the Big Sioux River were a destination for native tribes for many years before they became the heart of a new city, Sioux Falls, when investors sought to built a hydroelectric plant and flour mill in 1856. The milling enterprise has long since shut down, but the falls have endured as a popular location for the townspeople and visitors alike.
“The falls may not be the geographical center of Sioux Falls, since they’re located on the edge of downtown, but it is really the heart of the city,” said Krista Orsack, director of marketing for Visit Sioux Falls.
“The park is also a prime location for a number of outdoor events that take place in Sioux Falls,” Orsack said. Events are held at the park throughout the year, among them the popular Festival of Cultures, Germanfest and the annual Cinco de Mayo celebration. Winter, however, is when the park really comes to life. The annual Winter Wonderland celebration is a major event. From the Friday before Thanksgiving through the first weekend of January, the park is lit with more than 350,000 lights, and about 270 trees are decorated. The falls are also lit with color-changing lights for a special viewing experience.
Knife River Indian Villages
Stanton, North Dakota
The Knife River Indian Villages is a historic site that preserves three villages that made up the well-known center of trade at the time of the Louisiana Purchase and were home to Sacagawea and her people. The national park site is in present-day Stanton, North Dakota.
Groups visiting the site can walk along the trails to the remains of the three villages or stay close to the visitors center, where they can see a reconstructed earth lodge. There is also a museum featuring the many artifacts excavated at the site and a Hidatsa-style garden where groups can learn about how people lived at the site.
Events at the park this year include a guided photography hike led by local photographers in May. In June, there will be a special flint-knapping event where “anyone from novice to experts can learn traditional and modern flint-knapping techniques from the teachers,” said Alisha Deegan, chief of interpretation at the park. Rangers also give guided talks on the trails during warmer months or cross-country skiing tours during the winter.
Groups may also be interested in visiting nearby Fort Mandan, home of the Corps of Discovery during their stay in the area over the winter of 1804-1805. The site is home to the Lewis and Clark Interpretive Center and the reconstructed Fort Mandan.
Theodore Roosevelt National Park
Medora, North Dakota
Theodore Roosevelt National Park in western North Dakota includes sites tied to the nation’s 26th president while he lived in Dakota Territory. His time in the Dakotas helped to shape his strong conservationist views, so it’s no surprise that the national park abounds with alluring, expansive landscapes and a bevy of wildlife.
The park is divided into three units — the South, the Elkhorn and the North units — each with its own points of interest. The South is the main entrance to the park and includes the Maltese Cross Cabin, Roosevelt’s first home in the area, next to the visitors center and museum. This area also boasts the Painted Canyon, known for its colorful vistas.
The Elkhorn Ranch, where Roosevelt spent most of his time during his stay, is in the Elkhorn Unit, but only the home’s foundations remain, and access is limited to high-profile vehicles. The North Unit includes a 14-mile scenic drive that leads to Oxbow Overlook and many hiking trails that give ample opportunity to explore the park’s scenery. The hiking trails range from plenty of short, easy walks to strenuous trails for hard-core hikers.
Groups may enjoy pairing a trip to the park and its historic sites with seeing “Medora the Musical,” which tells the story of Theodore Roosevelt and the time he spent in the Dakota Territory.
Fort Abraham Lincoln State Park
Mandan, North Dakota
Fort Abraham Lincoln was once an important military outpost in the Dakota Territory and was home to the Mandan tribe before it moved north to join the Hidatsa living near the Missouri and Knife rivers.
One of the most popular things to see at the park is the reconstructed home of Lt. Col. George Armstrong Custer and his wife, Libbie. Custer was the first commander of the fort and served there from its beginnings until his death in the Battle of Little Big Horn. In addition to the commanding officer’s house, groups can tour the various reconstructed buildings of the Cavalry Post and the ruins of On-A-Slant Village, overlooking the river. The Little Soldier Loop Trail provides excellent views of the village ruins and overlooks the Missouri and Heart rivers and the city of Bismarck.
Groups with ample time may enjoy pairing a visit to North Dakota’s Fort Abraham Lincoln State Park with a stop in Custer, South Dakota, — the site where the 7th Cavalry discovered gold in the Black Hills and began the gold rush — and nearby Custer State Park. Although these sites are separated by a six-hour drive, learning the full history of Custer’s misfortunes and his influence on the settlement of the Black Hills will make for an interesting and history-filled trip.
