Building purchased for future military museum

The South Dakota Military Heritage Alliance has purchased a neighboring building with plans to establish the state’s first comprehensive military museum.

The property known as the AAA office building at 1300 N. Industrial Ave. is next to The Alliance, which had a museum in its long-range plans.

“While the timeline was much sooner than we had anticipated, the opportunity to purchase the former AAA building immediately next to The Alliance was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity that we could not ignore,” Tony Bour, The Alliance’s vice chairman, said in a statement.

“The Alliance’s focus has always been to both bring people together and preserve South Dakota’s incredible military heritage. It’s a heritage created by so many South Dakotans of different eras and branches of service that it really does need to be preserved for future generations.”

A matching donation allowed for the property to be purchased, but work on the museum can’t start until funds are raised to restore the building.

“Our goal is to create one of the finest military museums in the country, and we so appreciate the members of our community and state who are willing to join us in this unique and important effort,” Bour said.

The Alliance opened last year and has become a venue for everything from military group meetings to concerts. It includes veterans, led by the American Legion and VFW, active-duty military service members and their families, civilians, elected officials, business leaders and other individuals and resources from the Sioux Falls community and around South Dakota.

The Alliance and its events are open to the public. There’s also an on-site restaurant, coffee shop and theater that plays military-themed movies on demand.

Sioux Falls’ one-of-a-kind military center looks to the future