Your Top Questions About the Tri-State Museum Answered
Visit the Tri-State Museum & Visitor Center to explore the region’s intriguing history, including early settlements in the corners of South Dakota, Montana and Wyoming. Browse unique items in their gift shop and wander along the River Walk. Here's some things to know before you go.
What one thing will you learn here that you didn’t expect?
Learn about the screwball efforts of some less-than-stellar bank robbers who tried to rob a bank in Belle Fourche in 1897. We created a fun touchscreen all about it – and put it in our bank vault for extra humor.
What services do you offer visitors?
We have travelers’ maps and information, information about shopping in Belle Fourche, mailing of items purchased in the store, a back deck where people can have their lunch or a snack and enjoy the view! Also, we sell rodeo and carnival tickets for the Black Hills Roundup during the Fourth of July week.
What can you do and see during a visit here?
See the Center of the Nation monument; tour the Johnny Spaulding Cabin – one of only a few two-story 19th-century cabins in the U.S. – see the museum and its collections; play disc golf; walk on the bike path; have lunch on our grounds.
For kids, we have discovery boxes on a variety of topics; two activity tables; a microscope, slides and mineral samples; a gold panning station, a dress-up trunk and an archaeological dig experience.
Tour the Avenue of State Flags to learn state history and then take a short “find it” activity to locate certain flags.
ARCH DIG BOX Kids can engage in an archaeological dig with instructions on how to document their finds. Those who complete the dig receive a certificate.
NATIVE ARTIFACTS The museum has a small but interesting collection of artifacts that represent the artistry and culture of the Native people of the northern Black Hills.
PIONEER EXHIBIT Sit for a spell at the table in our Pioneer exhibit; you are surrounded by housewares, clothing, quilts, bedding and personal care items from a century ago.
LAW EXHIBIT The legal exhibit celebrates lawyers and judges from our area but also includes a wooden chair once owned by Judge Strevell of Pontiac, Illinois. His friend, Abraham Lincoln visited Strevell’s office. Could Lincoln have sat in this chair when he did?
KIDS’ AREA IN STORE Have kids or grandkids? Check out our great selection of smart toys and games, science kits and puzzles!
What special events can I participate in at the Tri-State Museum?
We have monthly Family Fun Days on the third Sunday of the month from 2 to 4 p.m. with a theme, film on demonstration, activity or craft, book-drawing, and free take-home workbook. $2 per person.
Join our monthly "First Saturday Brunch" - on the first Saturday of the month (except for July and December) with a home-cooked meal and a presentation. 9 to 11:30 a.m. $5 per person.
The Kite Festival and Duck Races takes place in mid-late may. Food, craft booths, activities, kites for kids to buy and fly, and prizes for the three best-decorated kites. Racing ducks are available for $10 apiece; first place across the “finish line” in the Belle Fourche River receives $500; second place $250 and third place $100.
Attend a "Hometown Thursday" here in June and July - Featuring live music, beer sales, food, craft booths and activities.
The Sweet Corn Festival, held every August is a festival for all things corn - including a corn cooking contest, activities for kids; food and craft booths; a live band and beer sales.
Join Pumpkinfest, Belle fourche's annual Halloween celebration held every October. Have fun at the Mad Scientist table, Food and craft booths, Mummy Bowling, Scarecrow Toss, and face painting. There are free goodie bags for kids, a pumpkin carving contest, and Halloween play.
Celebrate Light Up the Night this November. See the parade, and hop on for a wagon ride; chow on the chili feed, and museum dessert reception; Join us for the lighting of the city Christmas tree and caroling while fireworks light up the night behind the museum and visitor center complex.
For more information on these and other events, visit our events calendar.
If visitors are not coming for a specific event, when is the best time of year to explore the Tri-State Museum and Visitor Center?
Summer is a wonderful time to visit with lots of activity - the cabin is open, the vintage sheep wagon is in place, and the grounds are filled with flower beds and flower pots.
But autumn is a great time to visit, too. Some of the year’s best exhibits go up at this time, and the autumn colors around the complex are wonderful.
Regardless of when you visit, or what you do while here - you are sure to have a great time learning and exploring at the Tri-State Museum.
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