Skip to Main Content

Teddy Roosevelt in 1910 parade.

Tornado Beam, Teddy Roosevelt Car

Field review by the editors.

Sioux Falls, South Dakota

This free museum offers many artifacts of regional and historical note. We originally contacted them about Nipper the Hero Collie, then heard about a few roadside-y treasures.

The museum displays a Fawick Flyer, one of five early automobiles built in a local garage. Young Sioux Falls inventor Thomas Fawick designed it, one of the first cars with four doors. Teddy Roosevelt rode in the novel internal combustion car during a 1910 parade through the city.

On July 9, 1932, the force of a tornado tore away a steel bridge girder that was 12-ft. long and drove it into a thick tree trunk a thousand feet away. A portion of the tree trunk, curved steel beam, and photos of the aftermath are in a permanent exhibit about "Violent Winds."

Unfortunately, the museum no longer publicly displays the pelt of Nipper, a collie who in 1938 saved an 18-month old child who had fallen into a water tank. Nipper was run over by a truck soon after, but his furry hide was preserved. Nipper's pelt made an appearance in a temporary exhibit about dogs before going back into storage; we hope he turns up again.

Roadside Presidents
Roadside Presidents App for iPhone. Find this attraction and more: museums, birthplaces, graves of the Chief Execs, first ladies, pets, assassins and wannabes. Prez bios and oddball trivia. Available on the App Store.

Tornado Beam, Teddy Roosevelt Car

Old Courthouse Museum

Address:
200 W. 6th St., Sioux Falls, SD
Directions:
Old Courthouse Museum, NW corner of Main and W. 6th St.
Hours:
M-F 8-5, Th 8-9, Sa 9-5, Su 12-5. Closed major holidays. (Call to verify) Local health policies may affect hours and access.
Phone:
605-367-4210
Admission:
Free.
RA Rates:
Worth a Detour
Save to My Sights

Nearby Offbeat Places

McKinley: First President to Visit South DakotaMcKinley: First President to Visit South Dakota, Sioux Falls, SD - < 1 mi.
Bank Robbed by John DillingerBank Robbed by John Dillinger, Sioux Falls, SD - < 1 mi.
Replica Statue of DavidReplica Statue of David, Sioux Falls, SD - < 1 mi.
In the region:
Buffalo Ridge Ghost Town (1880 Cowboy Town), Buffalo Ridge, SD - 9 mi.

More Quirky Attractions in South Dakota

Stories, reports and tips on tourist attractions and odd sights in South Dakota.

Explore Thousands of Unique Roadside Landmarks!

Strange and amusing destinations in the US and Canada are our specialty. Start here.
Use RoadsideAmerica.com's Attraction Maps to plan your next road trip.

My Sights

My Sights on Roadside America

Create and Save Your Own Crazy Road Trip! ...Try My Sights

Mobile Apps

Roadside America app: iPhone, iPad Roadside America app for iPhone, iPad. On-route maps, 1,000s of photos, special research targets! ...More

Roadside Presidents app: iPhone, iPad Roadside Presidents app for iPhone, iPad. POTUS landmarks, oddities. ...More

South Dakota Latest Tips and Stories

Latest Visitor Tips

Sight of the Week

Sight of the Week

JFK's World Famous Twine Ball, Highland, Wisconsin (Mar 18-24, 2024)

SotW Archive

USA and Canada Tips and Stories

More Sightings