South Dakota’s Great Places: South Dakota Discovery Center

A few kids enjoying the special dinosaur exhibit from summer 2010. (Department of Tourism photo)

PIERRE, S.D. – The South Dakota Discovery Center and Aquarium, billed as a “science playground for the whole family,” provides educational, hands-on science activities that make it one of South Dakota’s Great Places.
 
Located in Pierre, S.D., the Discovery Center offers more than 60 hands-on exhibits that demonstrate the principles of electricity, magnetism, life sciences and physics. The center also features an aquarium filled with fish species native to the Missouri River that runs through Pierre.
 
The Discovery Center offers a number of summer programs for various ages and interests. Some of these include discovery camps, outdoor adventure programs and pre-school science Fridays. For more information, visit www.sd-discovery.com.
 
In addition to these programs, the center also offers traveling programs for teachers, 4-H and Scout leaders, and assistance with developing and hosting an educational event in your own community.

— From a Department of Tourism news release

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Great Faces. Great Places.

South Dakota is an incredibly unique state in that each region offers a completely different experience then the others. Check out each of the regions to see what each has to offer!

Badlands

Western South Dakota

Featuring the Black Hills, Badlands, the Sturgis Rally. This region tends to be the most popular.

CENTRAL REGION

This region of South Dakota offers some of the best hunting and fishing in the entire central US. 

Eastern Region

The eastern region is home to the largest city in the state and provides visitors with a true "prairie" experience.