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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Nov. 24, 2008
CONTACT: Patricia K. Miller, (605) 773-6001, Patricia.Miller@state.sd.us
Heritage Store opening Capitol branch
PIERRE, S.D. -- People can take home more than memories of their visit to the state Capitol.
The South Dakota Heritage Fund is opening a branch of the Cultural Heritage Center’s Heritage Store in the Capitol.
“We were approached by Bureau of Administration Commissioner Jeff Bloomberg about offering this service to the visitors of our state Capitol,” said Patricia K. Miller, president of the South Dakota Heritage Fund. “We know that during the holiday season, thousands of people come to the Capitol to enjoy the beautifully decorated Christmas trees. We want to add to their experience by having items with the Capitol’s image and other items available for them to take home.”
The Heritage Fund is the nonprofit fund-raising partner of the South Dakota State Historical Society. The Heritage Fund’s offices are located with other society offices in the CulturalHeritageCenter in Pierre. The Heritage Fund already operates The Heritage Store at the CulturalHeritageCenter.
The Heritage Store at the Capitol, which is the name of the new gift shop, will be located on the first floor of the Capitol, near the west elevators. It will be open for the first time the evening of Tuesday, Nov. 25. The gift shop will then be open 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday through Saturday and 1 to 5 p.m. Sundays from Friday, Nov. 28, through Sunday, Dec. 28.
The Heritage Store at the Capitol will offer South Dakota-made products, items which bear the image of the Capitol, and items related to South Dakota’s history and heritage. Among the books that people will be able to purchase are “The South Dakota Governors Residence Cookbook” and the new book by Marshall Damgaard about the Capitol published by the South Dakota State Historical Society Press, “The South Dakota State Capitol: The First Century.”
The centennial of the Capitol is being celebrated, and clothing, mugs and other items with the centennial logo on it will be available for purchase. The store will carry chocolates shaped like South Dakota and wrapped in a blue foil honoring the blue in the state flag. The label on some of the bags of coffee sold in the store will bear the Sioux horse effigy that is the symbol of the State Historical Society. Jewelry, buffalo sticks and jerky, and Christmas ornaments are a few of the many diverse items that will be available for purchase.
“We are pleased to offer items from South Dakota artists and to feature South Dakota products,” said Gail Ferris, the merchandiser for the Heritage Store. “We believe the Capitol is the perfect place for showcasing some of the best products and most unique items the state has to offer,”
Gift baskets will also be available for sale.
“These gift baskets featuring an assortment of South Dakota products will make perfect hostess gifts or Christmas gifts,” Ferris said.
For more information about The Heritage Store at the Capitol, contact Miller at 773-6001 or email her at Patricia.Miller@state.us.sd.
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The South Dakota State Historical Society is a division of the Department of Tourism and State Development and strives to help the state meet the goals of the 2010 Initiative by enhancing history as a tool for economic development and cultural tourism. The society is headquartered at the South Dakota Cultural Heritage Center in Pierre. The center houses the society’s world-class museum, the archives, and the historic preservation, publishing and administrative/development offices. Call (605) 773-3458 or visit www.sdhistory.org for more information. The society also has an archaeology office in Rapid City; call (605) 394-1936 for more information.