National Guard Museum in Pierre

The well-known National Guard Museum preserves the military heritage of South Dakota. The museum is located at 301 East Dakota Pierre, South Dakota. It was established so as to provide a facility for memorabilia and historical documents pertaining to the South Dakota National Guard. The National Guard Museum also educates National Guard members and the general public about the heritage of the South Dakota National Guard for both in peace and at war. Thus, the Department of Military and Veterans Affairs control the National Guard Museum.

The Curator as well as the local volunteers who are knowledgeable about all the displays is actually the staff in this museum. The museum has a large exhibit area. An actual Sherman Tank, A-7-D, Jet 75mm Cannon, Anti-Aircraft guns, 105mm Howitzer and an Armored Personnel Carrier are all being displayed outside of the National Guard Museum.

Moreover, displays, which cover each period of South Dakota’s National Guard and Militia’s existence, can be found inside the National Guard Museum. The collection would somehow reflect the heritage and the accomplishments of the National Guard in South Dakota.

Some of the National Guard Museum exhibits currently on display are:

• Territorial Militia - Civil War Period from 1860 up to 1898
• Desert Storm from 1990 up to 1991
• War on Terrorism from 2003 up to the Present
• Operation Iraqi Freedom 4 from 2005 to the Present.

Thus, National Guard Museum is open from Mondays through Fridays from 9:00 AM to 4:00 PM. It is closed during Weekends and Holidays. The tour for the museum is only by appointment.