Old Courthouse Museum starts historic walking tours and summer concert series
Summer is a good time to enjoy music and learn about the history of the place you live, and Sioux Falls Old Courthouse Museum starts its Summer Plaza Concert series and Historic Walking Tours this weekend.
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The summer concert series at the Old Courthouse Museum is a tradition that dates to around 30 years ago, said Siouxland Heritage Museums Marketing Coordinator Adam Nelson.
“We do a summer concert series behind the building and the plaza,” said Nelson. “We do a winter concert series in the courtroom.”
One of the aims of the event is to get people familiar with the museum while enjoying music and lunch, he said. For that, the museum is trying to attract a variety of different music from local to nationally touring bands. Some of the bands, said Nelson, have been coming back every few years.
“And then every year we try to get some new ones in as well,” he added. “So, it's not the same every year.”
The concerts take place every Friday from noon to 1 p.m. in the plaza behind the Old Courthouse Museum. The museum invites prospective guests to bring their lunches to enjoy the show and the weather. On a rainy day the museum brings the concerts inside.
“It's a lunchtime deal,” said Nelson.
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He said although it depends on the band and the weather, usually between 75 and 400 people come to enjoy the shows. This year the first concerts will feature the Shamrockers on June 2, Celtic & Folk on June 9, Curtis & Loretta on June 16, and Mike Munson on June 23.
Historic Walking Tours is another annual attraction for the museum. The tours are offered by the museum staff, said Nelson, and last for about an hour depending on the neighborhood.
“We talk about some of the history of the area, some of the history of the buildings,” said Nelson.
He said the aim of the tours is to take history out of the museum and into the city. The tours that generally focus on the historical areas of the city might slightly vary depending on the tour guides. In addition, the cemetery tours change a little bit every year to mention various people in the cemetery.
The tours will cover the Warehouse District on June 1, South End Cathedral District on June 8, Eastbank Downtown on June 15, Woodlawn Cemetery: Civil War Veterans on June 22, and North McKennan District on June 29.
The cost of participating in a tour is $5 for those who are more than 12 years old and $3 for SHM alliance members and volunteers. Prior registration is required, as the spaces are typically limited to 25 people for the convenience of all participants.
The tours begin at 6:30 p.m., but the starting locations may vary. For more information or to register, please call 605-367-4210.
This article originally appeared on Sioux Falls Argus Leader: Siouxland Heritage Museums start their summer programming
