FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:  Sept. 11, 2010

CONTACT:  Jeff Mammenga, Media Coordinator, (605) 773-6000, Jeff.Mammenga@state.sd.us

Rapid City Hosts Museum Conference

PIERRE, S.D. – Rapid City will experience an influx of people and culture when it hosts the Mountain-Plains Museums Association (MPMA) Conference, Sept. 13-17. The event will draw nearly 350 people from 10 states.

While in the Black Hills, those attending the conference will visit most of the museums in the general area.  Facilities from Hot Springs to Belle Fourche are included in conference tours and sessions.

“We’re really excited to host this conference in South Dakota,” said Jay D. Vogt director of the South Dakota State Historical Society and general chair of the MPMA Conference.  “It’s a great learning opportunity for all those museum employees in attendance, and it gives South Dakota a great opportunity to showcase its history, culture, and museums.”

Vogt said many people don’t realize the large presence of museums in South Dakota.

“There are more than 210 museums in the state, ranging in size from very small local institutions to larger organizations in larger cities. South Dakota has art, history, science, natural science and children’s museums – not to mention our larger-than-life sculptures at Mount Rushmore and Crazy Horse.”

The conference theme “Monumental Visions: Carving the Future for Museums,” plays off those signature sculptures. 

“South Dakota is a beautiful state with rich culture, and I have no doubt our conference attendees will walk away with new inspiration,” said Monta Lee Dakin, MPMA executive director.  “The Local Host Committee has worked tirelessly, and the result of their hard work is an outstanding lineup of tours, workshops and sessions.”

While in the Black Hills, conferees will attend workshops on a variety of topics and hear from speakers such as former U.S. Sen. George McGovern; Dr. Kirk Johnson, chief curator at the Denver Museum of Nature and Science; Gerard Baker, recently retired Mount Rushmore superintendent; and Dr. Ford Bell, president of the American Association of Museums.

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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.history.sd.gov for more information. The society also has an archaeology office in Rapid City; call (605) 394-1936 for more information.