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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Nov. 17, 2006
CONTACT: Jeff Mammenga, (605) 773-6000, Jeff.Mammenga@state.sd.us
Miniature historic homes featured at Heritage Center Holiday Open House
PIERRE, S.D. – Visitors to the annual holiday open house of the South Dakota State Historical Society at the Cultural Heritage Center on Friday, Nov. 24, can see miniature replicas of nine historic buildings in or around Pierre.
The project is sponsored by the Pierre Historic Preservation Commission. Vonnie Shields, commission president, said the group “brainstormed” and asked several local creative people, working off pictures of the buildings, to duplicate them in miniature.
“The creators could use any means to create the buildings,” Shields said. “The purpose is to promote the preservation of these historic structures.”
“The buildings look fantastic!” said Jay D. Vogt, director of the State Historical Society. “I can’t think of a better, more appealing way for the local commission to promote historic preservation.”
The buildings miniaturized include such well-known places as the Oahe Chapel, the Girl Scout Cabin, the Hughes County Courthouse, Pierre’s First School House and the Saint Charles Hotel; plus the Hipple House at 219 N. Highland Ave., the Crawford House at 129 S. Washington Ave., the Karcher-Sahr House at 222 E. Prospect Ave. and the Lustron House at 1123 E. Capitol Ave.
The “creators” include Mary and Don Ward; Janet McKenzie; Amanda Robey, Glenda Escott and Sue Trujillo; the team of Jan Long, Fern Barnett, Pam Kean, Mary Kirk and Liz Markley; Cheryl Reed; the team of JoAnne and Kevin Hipple, Lisa Mammenga, Kathy Stasch, Dorinda Timmons, Pam Hoepfer, Missy Schuetzle and Bonnie Feller-Hagen; Linda Hunter; Gayle VanCamp; and Kathy Villa and Peggy Stout.
The miniature houses, on display through early January and located in the lobby of the Cultural Heritage Center, are just one activity happening at the open house, which runs from 1-4:30 p.m. on the 24th. Vesta Wells Johnson of Rapid City will be singing “Songs My Mother Loved to Sing,” Mary Gab of Eureka will be displaying her handcrafted Old World Santas, and Santa Claus himself will be there for the children. There is free admission to the museum, free holiday treats, and South Dakota-made products featured in the Heritage Store gift shop.
The open house is just the beginning of holiday happenings at the Cultural Heritage Center. Each Sunday following Thanksgiving Weekend will have a different theme. “American Indian Holiday Celebration” is Dec. 3, followed by “A Natural South Dakota Christmas” on Dec. 10 and “Taste of South Dakota” on Dec. 17.
Call (605) 773-3458 for more information.
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The South Dakota State Historical Society is an office 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.