First Congregational Church

Take a look straight ahead for a striking stone church with two uneven towers standing tall at the corners and impressive steps welcoming you right up front. Now, imagine it’s the year 1907, horses clip-clop along the street, and the aroma of pine beams and fresh-cut quartzite fills the air as the First Congregational Church rises in all its glory. This church isn’t shy—it shows off its unique towers like a pair of old friends who can’t quite agree on who’s taller. Builders wanted it to look grand and solid, a rock in the heart of Sioux Falls where neighbors could find a bit of peace and, perhaps, the best potluck in town. If you peek around the north side, you’ll find a mysterious, tower-like entrance for those who like to make a quieter entrance. In 1955, modern dreams swept in, and a brand-new wing popped up—imagine a curtain wall of glass sparkling under the prairie sun, framed in shiny aluminum. But change has its own sense of humor, and after the 1980s, even this modern wing dressed up in a stone suit to match its 1907 sibling, copying the old and waving goodbye to the future for a while. Through storms, laughter, and even style changes, this church has remained a steady guardian of stories, each stone holding secrets from a century of Sunday mornings in Sioux Falls.