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Mead Museum

Mead Museum
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Tourist AttractionsCivic/Business OrganizationsStudios/Galleries

About Us

Built in 1909, the Mead Building was originally used as patient housing for women as part of the Yankton State Hospital operations until the 1980’s when patient numbers dropped. Dr. Leonard C. Mead was the architect behind the Mead Building and many others on the historic campus. The building was designed to provide a home for women where they could be cared for with compassion and dignity.

Between 2008 and 2018, the Yankton County Historical Society and Mead Building Restoration Committee restored the historic Mead Building and moved its operations to the newly created Mead Museum.

Today the Mead Museum houses over 45,000 historic artifacts. The museum features changing and traveling exhibits throughout the year and posts these scheduled exhibits on their website. Permanent exhibits include:
* Journeying Forward: Connecting Cultures features the history of the American Indian culture of the region through the Lewis & Clark Expedition of 1804-1806
* Yankton State Hospital Minds, Methods, and Medicine features four rooms dedicated to the architectural history of the historic South Dakota Human Services Center, medical practices in mental health, day in the life of a Yankton State Hospital patient, farm therapy and staff life
* Children's Transportation Museum provides hands-on history experiences for children of every age

The Mead Museum is also opening an outdoor history experience called Heritage Park.

We recommend repeat visits to the Mead Museum as permanent and changing exhibits are being developed and added every year.

Mead Mercantile Gift Shop available

Highlights

  • Children's Transportation Museum
  • Yankton State Hospital Minds, Methods, and Medicine
  • Journeying Forward: Connecting Cultures
  • Mead Mercantile Gift Shop
  • Joseph and Sarah Wood Ward Alumni & Educational Center of Yankton College

Images

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Gallery Image Images_advertisements_general_square_lobby_VMR_group.jpg
Gallery Image Childrens'_Museum_050923.jpg
Gallery Image National_Travel_and_Tourism_Week_050723.jpg
Gallery Image HSC_Farm_Therapy_IMG-6904.JPG

Events

Mead Museum Hall of Trees 2023
  • Discover the magic of Christmas at the Mead Museum Hall of Trees 2023 from Friday, November 24 - Sunday, December 31!
  • Thursday Dec 7, 2023
Mead Museum Hall of Trees 2023
  • Discover the magic of Christmas at the Mead Museum Hall of Trees 2023 from Friday, November 24 - Sunday, December 31!
  • Friday Dec 8, 2023
Mead Museum Hall of Trees 2023
  • Discover the magic of Christmas at the Mead Museum Hall of Trees 2023 from Friday, November 24 - Sunday, December 31!
  • Saturday Dec 9, 2023
Mead Museum Hall of Trees 2023
  • Discover the magic of Christmas at the Mead Museum Hall of Trees 2023 from Friday, November 24 - Sunday, December 31!
  • Sunday Dec 10, 2023
Hall of Trees – Visit Santa & Mrs. Claus
  • Visit & take photos with Santa & Mrs. Claus on Sundays, December 3, 10, & 17 from 1 PM – 3 PM and Friday, December 22 from 1 PM – 3 PM.
  • Sunday Dec 10, 2023
Mead Museum Hall of Trees 2023
  • Discover the magic of Christmas at the Mead Museum Hall of Trees 2023 from Friday, November 24 - Sunday, December 31!
  • Monday Dec 11, 2023
Mead Museum Hall of Trees 2023
  • Discover the magic of Christmas at the Mead Museum Hall of Trees 2023 from Friday, November 24 - Sunday, December 31!
  • Tuesday Dec 12, 2023
Mead Museum Hall of Trees 2023
  • Discover the magic of Christmas at the Mead Museum Hall of Trees 2023 from Friday, November 24 - Sunday, December 31!
  • Wednesday Dec 13, 2023
Hall of Trees - Crafts for Kids
  • The Mead Museum Hall of Trees will have extended hours featuring Christmas crafts for kids on Wednesdays 4PM - 8 PM. Visit MeadBuilding.org/halloftrees
  • Wednesday Dec 13, 2023
Mead Museum Hall of Trees 2023
  • Discover the magic of Christmas at the Mead Museum Hall of Trees 2023 from Friday, November 24 - Sunday, December 31!
  • Thursday Dec 14, 2023
Mead Museum Hall of Trees 2023
  • Discover the magic of Christmas at the Mead Museum Hall of Trees 2023 from Friday, November 24 - Sunday, December 31!
  • Friday Dec 15, 2023
Mead Museum Hall of Trees 2023
  • Discover the magic of Christmas at the Mead Museum Hall of Trees 2023 from Friday, November 24 - Sunday, December 31!
  • Saturday Dec 16, 2023
Mead Museum Hall of Trees 2023
  • Discover the magic of Christmas at the Mead Museum Hall of Trees 2023 from Friday, November 24 - Sunday, December 31!
  • Sunday Dec 17, 2023
Hall of Trees – Visit Santa & Mrs. Claus
  • Visit & take photos with Santa & Mrs. Claus on Sundays, December 3, 10, & 17 from 1 PM – 3 PM and Friday, December 22 from 1 PM – 3 PM.
  • Sunday Dec 17, 2023
Mead Museum Hall of Trees 2023
  • Discover the magic of Christmas at the Mead Museum Hall of Trees 2023 from Friday, November 24 - Sunday, December 31!
  • Monday Dec 18, 2023
Mead Museum Hall of Trees 2023
  • Discover the magic of Christmas at the Mead Museum Hall of Trees 2023 from Friday, November 24 - Sunday, December 31!
  • Tuesday Dec 19, 2023
Mead Museum Hall of Trees 2023
  • Discover the magic of Christmas at the Mead Museum Hall of Trees 2023 from Friday, November 24 - Sunday, December 31!
  • Wednesday Dec 20, 2023
Hall of Trees - Crafts for Kids
  • The Mead Museum Hall of Trees will have extended hours featuring Christmas crafts for kids on Wednesdays 4PM - 8 PM. Visit MeadBuilding.org/halloftrees
  • Wednesday Dec 20, 2023
Mead Museum Hall of Trees 2023
  • Discover the magic of Christmas at the Mead Museum Hall of Trees 2023 from Friday, November 24 - Sunday, December 31!
  • Thursday Dec 21, 2023
Mead Museum Hall of Trees 2023
  • Discover the magic of Christmas at the Mead Museum Hall of Trees 2023 from Friday, November 24 - Sunday, December 31!
  • Friday Dec 22, 2023
Hall of Trees – Visit Santa & Mrs. Claus
Hall of Trees – Visit Santa & Mrs. Claus
  • Visit & take photos with Santa & Mrs. Claus on Sundays, December 3, 10, & 17 from 1 PM – 3 PM and Friday, December 22 from 1 PM – 3 PM.
  • Friday Dec 22, 2023
Mead Museum Hall of Trees 2023
  • Discover the magic of Christmas at the Mead Museum Hall of Trees 2023 from Friday, November 24 - Sunday, December 31!
  • Saturday Dec 23, 2023
Mead Museum Hall of Trees 2023
  • Discover the magic of Christmas at the Mead Museum Hall of Trees 2023 from Friday, November 24 - Sunday, December 31!
  • Sunday Dec 24, 2023
Mead Museum Hall of Trees 2023
  • Discover the magic of Christmas at the Mead Museum Hall of Trees 2023 from Friday, November 24 - Sunday, December 31!
  • Tuesday Dec 26, 2023
Mead Museum Hall of Trees 2023
  • Discover the magic of Christmas at the Mead Museum Hall of Trees 2023 from Friday, November 24 - Sunday, December 31!
  • Wednesday Dec 27, 2023
Hall of Trees - Crafts for Kids
  • The Mead Museum Hall of Trees will have extended hours featuring Christmas crafts for kids on Wednesdays 4PM - 8 PM. Visit MeadBuilding.org/halloftrees
  • Wednesday Dec 27, 2023
Mead Museum Hall of Trees 2023
  • Discover the magic of Christmas at the Mead Museum Hall of Trees 2023 from Friday, November 24 - Sunday, December 31!
  • Thursday Dec 28, 2023
Mead Museum Hall of Trees 2023
  • Discover the magic of Christmas at the Mead Museum Hall of Trees 2023 from Friday, November 24 - Sunday, December 31!
  • Friday Dec 29, 2023
Mead Museum Hall of Trees 2023
  • Discover the magic of Christmas at the Mead Museum Hall of Trees 2023 from Friday, November 24 - Sunday, December 31!
  • Saturday Dec 30, 2023
Mead Museum Hall of Trees 2023
  • Discover the magic of Christmas at the Mead Museum Hall of Trees 2023 from Friday, November 24 - Sunday, December 31!
  • Sunday Dec 31, 2023

Rep/Contact Info

Crystal Nelson
Executive Director

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