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See three states from atop the 75-foot Nicollet Tower, an observation tower with three floors that provides a breathtaking view of the great valley carved by the glacier some 40,000 years ago. The Interpretive Center next to the tower provides a 12-minute film "Dakota Encounters" about French mapmaker Joseph N. Nicollet's 1830's mapping of the area. Nicollet's map and original artwork by John Wilson are also on display. Located 3.5 miles west of Sisseton, the Interpretive Center is open mid-May through mid-October, 10 a.m. - 5 p.m., Monday through Friday, and 1 - 4 p.m. on Sunday.
45356 SD Hwy 10
Sisseton, SD 57262
(605) 698-7672
National Register of Historic Places
The Roberts County Courthouse is located at 411 2nd Ave. East in Sisseton. Sitting on top of a hill at 2nd Avenue East, between Maple and Oak streets, this historic building with a "Neo-Classical Revival" design was built in 1902. The structure was listed on the National Register in 1976. The county is governed by five commissioners, elected by district, who meet Tuesdays at 9:00 a.m. at the courthouse. The courthouse is open 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday, and is closed on holidays as designated by the county commissioners and the State of South Dakota.
411 2nd Ave E
Sisseton, SD 57262
National Register of Historical Places
Stories of Scandinavian immigration are told through a collection of immigrant letters and historical photographs in this authentic 10-bedroom Victorian home built by Norwegian immigrant Andrew Stavig. The century-old house was the setting for the Emmy-award winning documentary "The Stavig Letters" produced by South Dakota Public Broadcasting in 2011. The house is open to visitors from early June through Labor Day weekend. Tours are available during summer hours 10 a.m. - 4 p.m. daily, 1-4 p.m. on Sunday. (closed Tuesday and Wednesday).
112 1st Ave W.
Sisseton, SD 57262
(605) 698-4561
The distinctive "Song to the Great Spirit" building at Sisseton Wahpeton College honors the traditions and past of the Dakota people, while also functioning as an academic building. It is built in the shape of four drummers sitting around a drum, and can be seen from Interstate 29. Other buildings on the SWC campus with unique architectural features include the SWC Library and the SWC Auditorium.
The Sisseton-Wahpeton Oyate of the Lake Traverse Reservation was organized under a constitution approved by its members and the Department of the Interior in 1966. The reservation is one of three open reservations in South Dakota.
In 2013 the Sisseton Wahpeton Oyate opened its $31 million administration building. The unique structure is provides a central hub fro the tribe's administrative offices to assist tribal members with their social, educational and housing needs. at the center of the structure, a multi-use area includes numerous cultural displays for public viewing.
Members of the Sisseton Wahpeton Oyate are governed by a Tribal Council made up of representatives elected from each of the tribe's seven districts, and an Executive Committee which includes the Tribal Chairman, Vice-Chairman and Secretary, all elected by the tribal membership at large.
The Tribal Administration Building is located at 12554 BIA HWY 711 in Agency Village (seven miles south of Sisseton). The unique structure was completed in 2013. The Main Phone for the Administration Building is (605) 698-3911 or TOLL FREE (833) 698-3911.
12554 BIA Hwy 711
Agency Village, SD 57262
(605) 698-3911
Other sites of interest in the Old Agency area include:
The historic Goodwill Presbyterian Church and Cemetery (1870)
The historic St. Mary's Episcopal Church and Cemetery (1880)
The SWO Pow-Wow and Rodeo Grounds
Chief Gabriel Renville's brick house ruins (2 miles southeast of Agency Village)
Chief Gabriel Renville's grave on a bluff (2.5 miles southeast of Agency Village)
National Registry of Natural Landmarks
Also the site of the Mound Builders Burial Ground, located 11 miles east of Sisseton on SD Hwy. 10. A channel cut by the Ancient River Warren during the Ice Age, containing the Hudson Bay-Gulf of Mexico divide, with a lake on each side as evidence of the irregularities in Ice Age sedimentation.
The Northern Divide, separate from the Great Divide, runs through the northeast corner of South Dakota, near Sisseton. It runs back and forth across the border between South Dakota and Minnesota. It divides water drainage flowing north into the Hudson Bay or south into the Mississippi River basin. A metal marker 4.5 miles east of Sisseton on SD Hwy. 10 designates one of the locations.
National Registry of Natural Landmarks
This area in northern Roberts County is a glaciated finger outlet of the world's largest Pleistocene glacial lake, and a completely undisturbed wetland complex which includes potholes, streams, shallow open water, lakes, and marsh.
National Registry of Natural Landmarks
Located 10 miles northwest of Sisseton, this area displays many facets of natural history, including the glacial story of the River Warren, pothole lakes on the upland of Coteau, grasslands and prairie, and ravines where eastern deciduous forests grow. It also includes the eastern face of the escarpment of the Coteau des Prairies.
The Abbey of the Hills Inn & Retreat Center is located near Marvin, SD (east of Summit). The Abbey is a non-profit retreat and event center that hosts retreats and interactive experiences that reflect the peace sustained by Benedictine monks for more that 60 years at the former monastery known as Blue Cloud Abbey. If you like to write, hike, pray or play -- regardless of your faith -- there is a unique experience waiting for you at The Abbey.
46561 147th Street
Marvin, SD 57251
Blue Dog Lake's State Fish Hatchery is South Dakota's only facility for producing both cool and warm water fish. As the largest fish hatchery in the state, it covers 53 acres of water and produces 70 million fish a year. Located on the northeast side of the lake, the hatchery offers a visitor center and aquarium, informative displays and two hiking trails for tourists. The hatchery is open to visitors year round, Monday through Friday from 8:30 a.m. - 4 p.m.
44437 139A St
Waubay, SD 57273
(605) 947-4657
The International Vinegar Museum opened in 1999 and is located at 500 Main Street in Roslyn, SD. It features displays of vinegar from all over the world and products, including paper, made from vinegar. The museum is open June through August on Thursday, Friday and Saturday from 10 a.m. - 6 p.m. Tours are available that include taste testing of various vinegars. Roslyn also hosts an annual Vinegar Festival in June each year.
500 Main St
Roslyn, SD 57261
National Register of Historic Places
The Sam Brown Log Cabin was originally built in 1863 near Fort Wadsworth, which is now known as Fort Sisseton. In 1866 Major Joseph Brown purchased the house and moved it just north of Ben's Service on Browns Valley, MN. Each piece was numbered, taken down, transported, and re-erected in its same form. In 1871 it was again dismanteled and moved to its present location. In 1986, Sam Brown's Memorial Park was added to the National Register of Historic Places. Today the cabin is open as a museum from Memorial Day to Lavor Day (weekends only) 1 -6 p.m. or by special request.
796 W Broadway
Browns Valley, MN 56219
(320) 695-2608
Waubay National Wildlife Refuge, located in northeaster Sonuth Dakota (8 miles north of Waubay), was established 1935 as a refuge and breeding ground for migratory birds and other wildlife. The Refuge includes 4,650 acres of lakes, marshes, grasslands, and woodlands which support diverse and abundant wildlife and where 245 species of birds have been observed. The Headquarters Visitor Center includes displays and exhibits that focus on the wildlife and history of the Refuge and is open Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. (closed holidays).
44401 134A St
Waubay, SD 57273
Resting atop the rolling prairie south of Rosholt, SD, With the Wind Vineyard & Winery marries the panorama of the peaceful sunsets with each of their handcrafted wines. The winery's tasting room is open Friday and Saturday, 11 a.m. - 6 p.m., Sunday 1 - 6 p.m. (closed during the month of January).
10722 Lake Road
Rosholt, SD 57260
(605) 537-4780