You’re looking for a large, square building made from pinkish stone blocks, with rows of windows and a modern glass entrance on one corner-it’ll be front and center, standing out from everything else around.
Ah, welcome! Step right up to the Washington Pavilion of Arts and Science, a place with enough imagination inside to light up all of Sioux Falls. Imagine it’s 1911, and students are rushing through these halls-it was once the proud Washington High School, and if you press your ear to the cool pinkish stone, you just might hear echoes of their footsteps. This stone isn’t just any rock; it’s Sioux Quartzite, the hometown hero of building materials, giving the Pavilion its charming pink glow. There’s even a bit of black rock mixed in-the legendary corson diabase-from an era when people thought magma rock was quartzite. That’s history with a twist!
Fast forward to 1999. What was once a place for pop quizzes and prom decorations, gets a dazzling new life. The Washington Pavilion opens, taking the city by storm. Your senses might tingle as you walk in-on the left, the Kirby Science Discovery Center absolutely buzzes with energy across three rollicking floors, filled with hands-on science wonders for young and old. Just imagine the buzz when local kids build rockets here!
Step further and you’ll find two grand performing arts centers. Some pretty big acts and even Broadway shows strut their stuff here-plus, the South Dakota Symphony calls this home. But don’t just listen for orchestras-sometimes, you’ll catch the tap of dance shoes or the chorus of a Broadway musical.
For those who love art, wander into the Visual Arts Center, where every wall changes with exciting new national, regional, and blockbuster exhibitions-think Warhol and Adams, all the way to local creators. And here’s a secret: on Tuesday and Saturday mornings, and the magical “First Fridays,” you can wander in for free.
And, of course, don’t miss the mighty Cinedome, now transforming into the new Sweetman Planetarium as of 2023. Imagine the whir of the projector, and soon, cosmic adventures overhead. The Pavilion’s a place where history, science, music, and art all shake hands-and trust me, their grip is firm and unforgettable!
