From one end of S.D. to another, children’s museums are growing

From Brookings to the Black Hills, South Dakota soon will offer more museum offerings designed for children.

The Black Hills Children’s Museum began coming together last summer as the community of Box Elder looked for ways to support the new B-21 mission coming to Ellsworth Air Force Base.

“We saw a great opportunity, and everything is lining up to make it happen,” said Brent Hendrickson, director of economic and community development/marketing and events for the city of Box Elder.

The 40,000-square-foot museum will be built within the new Liberty Plaza in downtown Box Elder on a 5-acre property donated by developer Dream Design International, about a half-mile from Interstate 90.

“Having it on this site will allow us to raise funds and build the facility in the way a modern, state-of-the-art children’s museum should be,” Hendrickson said.

The concept is for a three-story museum with more than 40 exhibits, a cafe, traveling exhibit space, outdoor exhibit space, birthday party rooms and a 4D theater.

“The museum will feature a host of interactive attractions with themes unique to the Black Hills region of South Dakota,” Hendrickson said. “We feel the Black Hills Children’s Museum, along with this location, will not only be a great fit for the city of Box Elder but for the entire region and tourism spectrum.”

Exhibits will tie uniquely to the area, including a science, technology, engineering and math focus around activities connected to Ellsworth and a Badlands-themed bouldering climbing wall.

Interactive sand and water tables will allow visitors to fish or experience a kayak simulator.

Other exhibits will focus on areas such as paleontology and rodeo.

Exterior exhibits planned include musical instruments, a giant-themed playground structure, rock and cave structures and a large bubble exhibit. Visitors will be able to play in raised garden beds and in the very shallow Boxelder Creek, which flows the length of the exterior area. Throughout the entire outdoor space, children can take a ride on a Strider bike course.

The museum has issued a request for proposals to design and build the museum, and those are due later this month. The plan is to start construction next year and open in 2025. It’s estimated as a $15 million project, and the city is meeting with sponsors and donors while applying for grants.

In Brookings, the Children’s Museum of South Dakota is marking 12 years and planning for its future.

“One of the big things we did during COVID was strategic planning, so we’re in the midst of that,” director of marketing Kerrie Vilhauer said. “We’re expanding our board and working on the plan now. We’re 12 years old now, and we’re very happy with the success we’ve had, but we also want to make sure we’re bringing that imagination for years to come.”

The newest additions to the museum include a veterinary exhibit on the Kids Street area.

“Basically, it’s a spot for you to check in on all the animals — puppies, guinea pigs, cats — and it’s been really fun,” Vilhauer said. “Our exhibits all interrelate, so when you come to Kids Street, there are different places you might notice on a Main Street. Many of our cattle and chickens and items from the farm are making their way to Kids Street.”

The museum’s traveling exhibits rotate every few months. The current one explores marble runs “and all sorts of different ways to watch balls roll, so that’s been a fun spot where we see a lot of fun engagement with kids and parents,” Vilhauer said.

The museum cafe also is back open from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday with a menu that includes mac-and-cheese, grilled cheese sandwiches, pasta dishes and salads.

Recent visitors have reflected newcomers to the museum who put off making their first trip during the pandemic but now are venturing out, she said.

“The majority of people who come to play with us have either had children since the pandemic and never been here before or they’re coming back after that period of time.”

A few upcoming events also will offer unique reasons to visit.

The museum will be part of the broader Frost Fest in Brookings, with outdoor events including snowshoeing and snow painting, including the annual Frost Fest Snow Ball that has become a popular community event. It also will be open on Presidents Day this year.

And on April 21, the museum is offering its first Adult Night, “basically for people who don’t have kids or don’t have a child in their life. It’s a time to come play, and we’ll have drinks and appetizers, and they can let off some steam,” Vilhauer said.

To learn more about the museum, click here.