Art Galleries, Historical Sites and Museums
Bede Art Gallery
1105 W. 8th St.
(605) 668-1011 or (855) 686-2789
Bede Art Gallery provides a cultural center where professional artists showcase their work. The gallery, located in the lobby of Marian Auditorium on Mount Marty College campus, is named after and in remembrance of the Benedictine monk, Bede the Venerable. Monthly exhibits from regional artists are featured throughout the school year, many with an artist’s Gallery Talk and reception. A student exhibit highlights the end of each semester. The gallery is open to the public at no cost from Sept. through May. Open Monday - Friday from 8 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.
Bishop Marty Memorial Chapel
1005 W. 8th St.
(605) 668-6000
A distinctive Yankton landmark built in 1950; Bishop Marty Memorial Chapel is considered one of the country’s best examples of western architecture. Saints depicted over the front doorway include Saints Gertrude the Great, Lioba, Scholastica, Benedict, Gregory, Anselm and Bede. At the back of the Upper Chapel is a plaque on the east wall that commemorates the loving memory of the deceased Sisters of the Benedictine Convent of Sacred Heart Monastery. Open daily from 8 a.m. – 5 p.m. Tours available Monday-Friday or by appointment. Gift shop items are available in the Sacred Heart Monastery.
Christ Episcopal Church
517 Douglas Ave.
(605) 665-2456
www.christepiscopalchurchyankton.com
You will be captivated and inspired by the memorial stained-glass windows, the powerful rich sound of the organ and the warm, mellow woodwork in this over 150 year old church. Tours of the church are available by calling the church office.
Cramer Kenyon Heritage Home and Dorothy Jencks Memorial Garden
509 Pine St.
(605) 665-7470
Completed in 1886, by the Secretary of the Dakota Territory, this stately home is the tallest Queen Anne home in South Dakota. Unique features of the home include heavy double doors in the front entry, high coved ceilings, combination gas and electric chandeliers and replicated wallpaper in the parlors. The home remains in its original 1880s décor with oil paintings by Alice Bullfinch Cramer decorating the walls. Open for guided tours from Memorial Day through Labor Day, Wednesday – Sunday from 1 – 5 p.m. During the off season, the home is open by appointment. Admission is free will donations.
Dakota Spirit
4th Street and Broadway Avenue
Keep Yankton Beautiful presented this fountain to the City of Yankton in 2006. The fountain reconnects Yankton with its past of being called “The Fountain City”. This fountain fittingly called “Dakota Spirit” was sculpted out of one solid 18 ton block of South Dakota granite from Milbank. The fountain appears to be made of many layers. These layers represent all the different people that make up South Dakota’s past and present.
Dakota Territorial Capitol Replica
Riverside Park (Intersection of Douglas Avenue & Levee Street)
(605) 668-5231
The capitol replica symbolizes Yankton as being the first capitol of the Dakota Territory from 1861-1883. The replica is patterned after the original Dakota Territorial Capitol built in Yankton in 1862 and torn down in 1886. Displays in the building include photographs of old Yankton, maps of the Dakota Territory, a gallery of former Dakota Territorial governors and a tribute to the local St. John's Masonic Lodge. Visitors will want to view the quilt highlighting Yankton landmarks, made by the four Yankton Quester chapters. For rental and viewing of the capitol contact the Parks & Recreation Department.
Dakota Territorial Museum
82 Mickelson Drive
(605) 665-3898
In 2018, the Dakota Territorial Museum relocated to the Mead Cultural Education Center, a historic building on the South Dakota Human Services Center Campus. Built in 1909, this building is a great addition to the wonderful collection the museum already holds. View the “Journeying Forward: Connecting Cultures with Lewis and Clark” exhibit – an in-depth look into Corps of Discovery’s journey west. The Children’s Transportation Museum offers kids of all ages the experience of what it was like to journey to Yankton by river, wagon, train, auto, and plane. The most recently added exhibit "Yankton State Hospital: Minds, Methods, and Medicine" is a four room display exploring the history of the mental health campus from its start in 1879 to the modern era. There are always additional traveling exhibits on display!
Admission is $8 adults, $5 Kids (6-17), $5 seniors; kids under 5 are Free. Check the website or Facebook page for most up to date information on hours. The museum can also be reached at 605-665-3898 or info@meadbuilding.org
G.A.R. Hall Art Gallery
Yankton Area Arts Association
508 Douglas Ave.
(605) 665-9754
This finely preserved Civil War building is the home of Yankton Area Arts Association and provides a charming setting for monthly art exhibits, receptions and meetings. There is a fully-equipped kitchen and large classroom in the basement. Historically, the Grand Army of the Republic (GAR) built the hall in 1887 as the Phil Kearney Post No. 7, a meeting place for Union veterans and their auxiliary. Call for more information, gallery exhibits, special events and rentals. Open Monday - Friday 1-5 p.m. and Saturday 1-3 p.m. Admission is free. The gallery is handicap accessible.
Gavins Point Dam
Four miles West on Highway 52
(402) 667-2546
www.nwo.usace.army.mil/gavinspoint
Gavins Point Dam, located on the Missouri River, was completed in 1957 as part of the Pick-Sloan Plan. The dam and powerplant are operated by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.
Historic Downtown Yankton
Between 2nd and 5th Streets & Linn and Burleigh Streets
(605) 665-2263
www.historicdowntownyankton.com
Stroll through the downtown area and browse many individually owned and operated businesses and unique shops. You will discover specialty gift, clothing and antique shops. As well as art galleries and a variety of home furnishings, decorating, business services, food, drink, entertainment, and overnight accommodations to suit your needs. Historic Downtown Yankton offers small town charm, unique architecture and area attractions and events all year-round. Located along the Missouri River – featuring the Meridian Walking Bridge - just blocks away from historic neighborhoods, sites, museums and community parks.
Historic Yankton Tour
(800) 888-1460
Take a tour of the past! Incorporated in 1862, Yankton is a riverboat city rich with history and charm. Many of the original homes date back to the 1870s and are a wonderful collection of the architecture of that time. A tour book is available for purchase at the Yankton Chamber & Visitors Center and Dakota Territorial Museum. The book is divided into walking and driving tours.
House of Mary Shrine
142 Drees Dr. (Seven miles West on Highway 52)
(605) 668-0121
Approaching the House of Mary Shrine from Highway 52 you will find the Chapel of St. Joseph, a Rosary Pond, the Little House of Mary, and the Mary Entrance. You then begin the ascent with statuettes, fountains, the Way of the Cross, and, at last, the three giant crosses overlooking Lewis and Clark Lake standing sentinel to the life and death of Jesus Christ. The descent leads to the tomb, Moses with the Ten Commandments, and St. Michael. The House of Mary greets you at the ground level, and across the road the Holy Innocents Garden and the Way of the Saints welcome you. The gift shop is open daily May – September from 1:00 – 4:00 p.m. The Chapel is open daily for quiet meditation and prayer. Masses are held Saturdays at 9:00 a.m. and Mondays in the summer at 8:30 a.m. The Rosary is prayed before Masses and on Sunday the Patriotic Rosary is at 4:00 p.m.
Jack McCall Historical Marker
Intersection of Highway 81 & Highway 50
Being the first territorial capital of the Dakotas, Yankton hosted the trial and hanging of the notorious Jack McCall for the murder of Wild Bill Hickok. The trial began on Dec. 4, 1876 in a courtroom at what is now present day Third and Capital Streets. Two days later the jury found McCall guilty. McCall’s hanging took place on March 1, 1877 near the present day intersection of Highway 81 and Highway 50. The hanging is remembered by a historical plaque, which is located in the parking lot on the south end of the Human Services Center.
Meridian Bridge
Walnut Street
The Meridian Bridge, a long-time landmark in Yankton, is the result of hard work and determination of local citizens. The bridge closed to vehicle transportation in October 2008, but opened in November 2011 to foot traffic. The bridge welcomes foot and bike traffic. Spanning over 3,029 feet, the Meridian Bridge is the longest pedestrian bridge connecting two states, Nebraska and South Dakota. It was originally built in 1924 and was the first permanent bridge crossing the Missouri River. This unique bridge is a “double-decker” with one lane positioned above another. It was constructed as a lift-span bridge to allow riverboat traffic to traverse the river. Up until 1953, it was operated as a toll bridge.
Mount Marty College
1105 W. 8th St.
(855) MtMarty (686-2789)
Mount Marty College is a beautifully maintained 80-acre campus along the bluffs of the Missouri River. The college offers Bachelor degrees, Associate degrees, pre-professional studies and Masters Programs. Students at Mount Marty College are surrounded by excellent academics, strong values and many ways to stay involved. Attractive financial aid packages and scholarships make a MMC education a tremendous value. Founded in 1936 by the Benedictine Sisters of Sacred Heart Monastery, the college is named in memory of Martin Marty, a Benedictine missionary and the area’s first Catholic Bishop.
Pierre Dorian’s Grave
West 2nd Street & Riverside Drive
Pierre Dorian was the first white settler in the Yankton area. He lived among the Yankton Sioux at the time that Lewis and Clark passed through in 1804. Lewis and Clark convinced Dorian to accompany them on their expedition and to serve as an Indian interpreter. Dorian later returned to the Yankton area. His grave was located by a local historian and a memorial marker dedicated in 2002.
USS Scorpion Historical Marker
Walnut Street & Riverside Drive
Presented by U.S. Submarine Veterans WWII South Dakota Chapter, this historical marker is located near the Missouri River on the West side of the Meridian Bridge. Scorpion was launched on July 20, 1942 and their first patrol was a hunting and mining mission near Honshu, Japan in April 1943. Scorpion went on three patrols that earned her a battle star. She was involved with a series of torpedo attacks and gun battles. On Jan. 5, 1944, Scorpion rendezvoused with Herring to transfer an injured man, but heavy seas prevented a safe transfer. Scorpion and 77 courageous crewmen were never seen again.
Veterans Memorial
321 W. 3rd St.
This memorial is dedicated to all veterans, past, present and future, whose sacrifices continue to protect our freedom. The red, white and blue memorial was designed by Luken Memorials to be up-lifting and reaching to the stars with the bronze eagle taking flight. The wording on the west side “All Gave Some, Some Gave All” refers to the sacrifices of our current and past veterans. The five granite pedestals display lasered scenes particular to each branch of the military. The main feature memorial contains three different colors of granite Rubin Red - India, Sierra White - United States and Blue Pearl - Norway.
Yankton College Office
1801 Summit St., Door 9
(605) 665-3661
Yankton College was the first institution of higher learning in the Dakota Territory, providing a quality liberal arts education to thousands before closing in 1985. Among its distinctions are the Conservatory of Music, School of Theology, Clark Observatory, the first Shakespearean outdoor Garden Terrace Theatre, several Rhodes Scholars, influential faculty and a record breaking athletic program. Student records, historical documents, college memorabilia and merchandise are available at the administrative office located at the north end of the Summit Activities Center. Open Monday-Friday, 8:30 a.m. - 4 p.m. or by appointment.
Yankton RiverWalk
Historic Downtown Yankton and Riverside Park
(605) 665-3636
RiverWalk is a public art project focused on bringing outdoor sculptures to downtown Yankton and Riverside Park. New sculptures will be installed annually in May for the public to enjoy. Each year the public has the opportunity to vote for their favorite sculpture, the People’s Choice Award. Votes will be tabulated at the end of each year. The winner will be announced each May, at the sculpture artist celebration. Download the RiverWalk app from www.yanktonriverwalk.org and take a self-guided walking tour while learning about each individual sculpture and artist.
