Review Best 4 Architectural Buildings in Sioux Falls

Sioux Falls, South Dakota’s largest city, often gets passed over by road trippers rushing to hit Mount Rushmore or explore the Badlands, but that’s a mistake if you love checking out unique building design. Tucked along the Big Sioux River, the city has a surprisingly diverse range of architecture that spans from rough-hewn 19th century stone builds to sleek 20th century modern designs, all shaped by the river that cuts right through downtown. A lot of these structures were built to work with the local landscape, not fight it, which gives them a distinct feel you won’t find in a lot of other Midwestern cities.

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Whether you’re passing through on a cross-country trip, planning a low-key weekend getaway, or just love spotting cool buildings during your daily wanderings, these four spots are worth carving out time for. You don’t need a degree in architecture to pick up on what makes each one special, and most of them are free to explore, so you can pop in and out as your schedule allows.

1. Washington Pavilion of Arts and Science

This is easily the most recognizable building in Sioux Falls, and for good reason. Built in 1908 as the city’s first public high school, it’s a perfect example of Beaux-Arts design, with a smooth limestone facade, grand Ionic columns out front, and a hipped tile roof that’s held up through over a century of South Dakota weather. I’ve caught a few local comedy shows there over the years, and the old auditorium still has that cozy, historic feel even with all the modern updates. It stopped being a high school in the 1970s, and after a huge community fundraising effort, it reopened in 1999 as a combined arts center, science museum, and event space. The inside is just as impressive as the outside: the original 1,500-seat auditorium still hosts Broadway tours, local theater productions, and big community events, while the two art galleries rotate work from local and regional artists, and the science wing has interactive exhibits that are perfect for kids and curious adults alike.

It’s a great spot for almost anyone: if you love old historic buildings that got a second life, you’ll get a kick out of seeing how they kept the original architectural details while updating the space for modern use. If you’re traveling with kids, the science exhibits and family-friendly shows make it an easy way to burn off an afternoon. Even if you’re just passing through, popping in to look at the main hall and the exterior details is totally worth it, no ticket required if you’re just browsing the public areas.

• Best time to visit: Weekday mornings between 10am and noon are way less crowded than weekends, when school groups and folks heading to evening shows fill up the space. The light in the art galleries is best then too, if you’re looking to take photos of the building’s interior details.
• Booking tip: General admission to the science museum and art galleries is available for walk-ins most days, but if you want to see a specific performance, special exhibit, or holiday event, book tickets 2 to 3 weeks in advance. Popular touring shows sell out weeks ahead, and same-day tickets are almost never available for big events.

2. Old Minnehaha County Courthouse

Built just two years before the Washington Pavilion, this 1906 building is a stark contrast to the Beaux-Arts style of the high school-turned-arts-center. It’s built in the Richardsonian Romanesque style, with rough, uneven red granite blocks, heavy rounded arches over the entrances, and a 150-foot central clock tower that was the tallest structure in the city for decades. It served as the county courthouse until 1974, when a newer, larger courthouse was built a few blocks away, and now it operates as a local history museum focused on the history of Sioux Falls and the surrounding region. The original oak woodwork in the old courtrooms is still intact, as are the original judge’s benches and the heavy iron staircases that lead up to the tower.

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This spot is perfect for history buffs, or anyone who loves quiet, low-key spaces to explore without the crowds of bigger tourist attractions. It’s small enough that you can see the whole museum in an hour or two, and the staff are super friendly and happy to point out little details you might miss, like the carved stone faces hidden in the facade, or the original jury box in the main courtroom. I popped in on a rainy afternoon a couple years ago, and the staff gave me a free impromptu tour of the old jail cells in the basement, which I would have totally missed if I’d just wandered on my own. It’s also a great spot to stop if you’re doing a full walking tour of downtown Sioux Falls, as it’s located right on the edge of the historic downtown district.

• Best time to visit: Late May through early September is ideal if you want to check out the small native plant garden out back of the courthouse, which is in full bloom during those months. The building is climate controlled year round, so it’s a good spot to stop if you need a break from extreme summer heat or winter cold.
• Booking tip: General admission is pay-what-you-can, with a suggested donation of $5 per person, and you never need to book in advance for a solo or small group visit. If you’re coming with a group of 10 or more, call the museum office a week ahead to arrange a free guided tour, which will give you way more context about the building’s history and the exhibits than you’d get wandering on your own.

3. Cathedral of Saint Joseph

If you’re looking for sacred architecture that holds its own against the famous cathedrals of bigger cities, this 1915 Gothic Revival build is a must-see. The twin 130-foot spires are visible from blocks away, and the exterior is made of soft gray granite that glows pink in the late afternoon sun. The real magic is inside, though: the vaulted ceilings rise 70 feet above the nave, and the 44 stained glass windows were all handcrafted in Munich, with scenes from the life of Saint Joseph and local South Dakota history woven into the designs. The hand-carved oak pews, the marble altars, and the tiny details like the carved stone angels over the entrances make it feel like a little piece of old Europe dropped right in the middle of the Midwest. It’s still an active parish, with daily masses and community events, so you’ll often see locals coming in to pray or attend meetings even if you’re just there to look around.

You don’t have to be Catholic, or even religious at all, to appreciate this building. It’s quiet, peaceful, and the craftsmanship is next level, whether you’re into architecture, art, or just want a quiet spot to sit and think for a few minutes. It’s a great contrast to the more secular public buildings on this list, and the way the light shifts through the stained glass throughout the day makes it worth popping in multiple times if you’re in town for a few days.

• Best time to visit: Weekday mornings around 10am are perfect, because the east-facing stained glass is lit up by the morning sun, making the colors pop way more than they do in the dim light of the afternoon. If you’re comfortable staying for a short mass, the 12:10pm daily mass is short and low-key, and you can sit in the back as long as you want with no pressure to participate.
• Booking tip: You never need to book anything for a general visit to the cathedral, just walk in through the main entrance off of 10th Street. If you want to take a guided tour that includes the bell tower, the crypt, and the small museum in the basement, stop by the parish office on weekdays between 9am and 4pm to sign up; tours are free, but donations to the cathedral’s maintenance fund are always welcome.

4. U.S. Federal Building and U.S. Courthouse

If you want to see a totally different side of Sioux Falls architecture, this 1965 mid-century modern build is the perfect counterpoint to the older historic structures on this list. The exposed concrete facade, vertical concrete brise-soleils that block harsh summer sun while letting in natural light, and the open, tree-lined plaza out front with a small sculpture garden make it stand out in a downtown full of older stone and brick builds. It’s still an active federal courthouse, so you can walk through the public areas to see the original terrazzo floors, built-in wood cabinetry, and open floor plan that’s classic mid-century design, and if you’re lucky you might even catch a public court proceeding in one of the courtrooms.

This one is perfect for mid-century modern design fans, or anyone who wants to see how public architecture evolved in the 20th century. The plaza out front is also a great spot to stop for a coffee or a snack if you’re doing a full downtown walking tour, and the sculpture garden has rotating work from local artists, so there’s almost always something new to look at. It’s a lot less crowded than the other spots on this list, so you can take your time exploring the exterior and the public interior spaces without feeling rushed.

• Best time to visit: Weekday mornings between 9am and 11am are ideal, because that’s when most public court proceedings are scheduled, so you can pop into a courtroom to watch a hearing if you’re interested. The morning light also hits the brise-soleils in a way that makes the concrete facade look really striking, if you’re into architectural photography.
• Booking tip: You never need to book anything to walk through the public areas of the building, just head through the main entrance off of 12th Street. If you want to attend a specific public court hearing, check the publicly posted court schedule at the building entrance a few days in advance to see what’s on the docket, and make sure to leave any large bags or outside food and drinks in your car, as you’ll have to go through a standard security checkpoint to enter.

Sioux Falls might not be the first city that comes to mind when you think of great American architecture, but these four spots prove it’s got a lot more to offer than most people realize. Whether you’re a lifelong architecture fan or just someone who loves stumbling on cool, unexpected spots on a road trip, each of these buildings has its own unique story and little details that make it worth the stop. Next time you’re passing through South Dakota, set aside an afternoon to wander downtown and check them out — you won’t regret it.

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