Mead Museum

The Mead Museum is a beautiful center showcasing Yankton and Dakota Territorial history. Housed in a stately 1909 building made of Sioux Quartzite pink rock with original marble staircase, it's a must-see destination on every trip to Yankton! Visitors can enjoy three floors of exhibits:

• Journeying Forward: Connecting Cultures features the history of the American Indian culture of the region through the Lewis & Clark Expedition of 1804-1806. New on display as of April 2025 is a Jefferson Peace Medal. The 4-inch Jefferson Peace Medals are extremely rare and historically significant artifacts from the early 19th century. These medals were commissioned by President Thomas Jefferson as part of diplomatic efforts with Native American tribes, serving as symbols of goodwill and alliance between the U.S. government and Indigenous leaders. In addition to the peace medal, the Journeying Forward exhibit recently had an upgrade in its history of the Ihanktonwan and Oceti Sakowin Nations, an important narrative to Yankton regional history.
• Yankton State Hospital Minds, Methods, and Medicine features four rooms dedicated to the architectural history of the historic South Dakota Humane Services Center, medical practices in mental health, day in the life of a Yankton State Hospital patient, farm therapy and staff life.
• The Children's Transportation Museum is an interactive and educational experience for kids of all ages (yes, even adults) to enjoy. This gallery explores how people traveled between Yankton and Sioux City during the 1800s and early 1900s.
  

Temporary exhibits change each summer. Our Heritage Park is an outside green space with a collection of historic buildings including a train depot, school house, log cabin and more. Each December, the museum is filled with unique cheery Christmas trees decorated by local businesses and organizations for the Hall of Trees.