Last updated: May 18, 2021
Place
Mead Cultural Education Center
"Mead building, Home of Dakota Territorial Museum, Yankton" by ali eminov is licensed under CC BY-NC
Quick Facts
Location:
Yankton, SD
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Amenities
17 listed
Accessible Rooms, Accessible Sites, Cellular Signal, Elevator, Fire Extinguisher, Gifts/Souvenirs/Books, Historical/Interpretive Information/Exhibits, Information, Information - Ranger/Staff Member Present, Parking - Auto, Parking - Bus/RV, Restroom, Restroom - Accessible, Scenic View/Photo Spot, Telephone, Toilet - Flush, Wheelchair Accessible
Lewis and Clark NHT Visitor Centers and Museums
Visitor Centers (shown in orange), High Potential Historic Sites (shown in black), and Pivotal Places (shown in green) along the Lewis and Clark National Historic Trail
The Mead Cultural Education Center, located in Yankton, South Dakota, was constructed in 1909 by Dr. Leonard C. Mead. Originally serving as part of the women’s ward for the Dakota Hospital for the Insane, the building was in use until the 1980s. Today, however, it houses the Dakota Territorial Museum and is upkept by the Yankton County Historical Society. An architectural treasure, the Mead Building has been slowly restored over the years and features pillars and a grand staircase within.
In August of 1804, Meriwether Lewis and William Clark passed through the Yankton area where they met with members of the Yankton Sioux Tribe. The museum commemorates their visits in the “Lewis & Clark Exhibit: Journeying Forward,” which details their journey and interactions with Native American tribes. Other exhibits include the Children’s Transportation Museum and the “Yankton State Hospital: Minds, Methods & Medicine.” Travelling exhibits are also hosted and rotated every few months. Visitors can also enjoy several educational and seasonally themed events relating to local history and the Mead Building itself, all of which are put on by staff and volunteers for a small fee. For more information on current events or pricing, please call (605) 665-3898 or visit https://www.meadbuilding.org/.