There is a moment, somewhere between watching a lightning bolt crackle across a Tesla coil and helping your kid excavate a plastic raptor claw from a sandbox, when you realize that the Washington Pavilion’s Kirby Science Discovery Center has quietly become one of the most underrated attractions in the entire northern plains. And I say that without a shred of exaggeration.
Tucked inside the magnificent Washington Pavilion — a grand, century-old former high school that anchors downtown Sioux Falls at the corner of 11th Street and Dakota Avenue — the Kirby Science Discovery Center is three floors of hands-on, eyes-wide-open wonder. It draws families from across the Dakotas, Nebraska, and Minnesota, and once you step inside, it’s immediately clear why. This is not the kind of museum where you shuffle past glass cases and read laminated placards in hushed tones. This is a place where you are invited, enthusiastically, to touch everything.
Start on the ground floor and work your way up. The life science exhibits explore the human body with interactive stations that let you test your reflexes, examine cells under a microscope, and learn how your heart pumps blood. Kids press buttons, pull levers, and generally make a joyful racket — and that’s exactly the point. Learning here feels less like school and more like play, which is precisely the magic the curators have bottled so effectively.
Head upstairs and the physical science galleries open up in all their glory. A massive water table lets little engineers redirect currents and build makeshift dams. A room dedicated to light and optics bends perception in ways that genuinely stump adults. The weather station exhibit hits particularly close to home in South Dakota — where the sky is never boring — and gives visitors a real appreciation for meteorology and the forces that shape the Great Plains.
The real showstopper, though, is the Wells Fargo Cinedome. This giant-screen dome theater sits right inside the Pavilion and cycles through an ever-changing rotation of science and nature films. Watching a documentary about deep space or ancient oceans on a screen that surrounds your entire field of vision is a legitimately transporting experience. Grab popcorn, lean back, and let the cosmos wash over you.
For families with younger children, the dedicated early childhood area provides age-appropriate exhibits in a calmer corner of the building — soft, colorful, and designed for curious hands still learning how the world works.
Admission is genuinely reasonable, especially for what you get. Dome theater tickets are purchased separately but are absolutely worth adding to your visit. Plan on spending at least two to three hours here, and don’t be surprised if you’re the adult who has the hardest time leaving.
The Washington Pavilion sits right in the heart of downtown, making it easy to pair your visit with lunch at one of the nearby restaurants along Phillips Avenue or an evening stroll along the river. Parking is plentiful and the neighborhood is welcoming and walkable. Whether you’re passing through Sioux Falls on a road trip or planning a dedicated weekend getaway, the Kirby Science Discovery Center belongs at the very top of your list.
Science, wonder, and a building with genuine architectural soul — Sioux Falls has been quietly offering this combination for years. It’s time more people found out about it.
