Sioux Falls Washington Pavilion combines art and science

Washington Pavilion
Native American sculpture greets Pavilion visitors

Sioux Fall’s Washington Pavilion is a mixed use facility. Visitors can take in art, a movie or check out the science museum.

Our favorite section was the Visual Arts Center. It offered an array of artwork, including Native American, dioramas and a couple of special exhibits.

As you approach the arts center, you’re greeted by a 30-foot tall origami display of 1,000 cranes. It’s believed if you make 1,000 cranes, you’ll have good luck.

Washington Pavilion
Origami

The Native art featured work by Native Americans. The pieces featured paintings, pottery and weaves, among other styles.

Washington Pavilion
Native American-created art

The dioramas were pretty cool to check out. The detail the artists used was impressive. You have to wonder if they fell in love with the concept when they were making shoe box dioramas in grade school.

Washington Pavilion
Dioramas were impressive

The art center had a few contemporary pieces.

Washington Pavilion
Special exhibit

The special exhibits grabbed at people’s emotions. The first featured photos with an intentional blur. As self-therapy, the artist created blurred photos depicting a person’s final seconds of life. This was his way of coping with an accident. It was sobering and kind of strange at the same time. The second exhibit basically consisted of words on plain paper. Again, this was self-therapy for the artist.

Washington Pavilion
Special exhibit

The pavilion is home to the South Dakota Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. It honors several state bands, as well as displaying several pieces of memorabilia from national performers, including Neil Sedaka and REO Speedwagon.

Washington Pavilion
Hall of Fame memorabilia

The Kirby Science Discovery Center is geared toward families with children. It has some interesting exhibits – about 100 interactive exhibits, to be accurate.

We enjoyed watching people check out a miniature hot air balloon on the first floor. It actually rises a few feet before landing.

Washington Pavilion
Hot air balloon display

The second floor offered a closer look at dinosaur fossils, including a model of a T-Rex. From a certain angle it looks like the T-Rex might take a bite out of the balloon if the balloon went another 10 feet in the air.

Washington Pavilion
Run!

The second floor has an interesting exhibit on space. A display honors South Dakota’s astronaut, Sam Gemar. He flew on three space shuttle missions during the 1990s.

Washington Pavilion
Space exhibit

We believe the Washington Pavilion would be a nice place to check out interesting artwork. Families would definitely enjoy the science center. And, if you’re interested in seeing a current release, catch a movie at the cinedome.

For more information on the pavilion, please visit www.washingtonpavilion.org or www.visitsiouxfalls.com.

Disclaimer: Thank you to the Sioux Falls visitors bureau for the complimentary admission. However, all opinions and views are ours.