Falls Park On the Big Sioux River

The Falls of the Big Sioux River have been a focus of life in the region throughout history. Native American peoples were the first to visit the falls and bring stories of them to European explorers. They have been the focus of recreation and industry since the founding of the city of Sioux Falls in 1856. Today the park covers 42 acres. Each second, an average of 7,400 gallons of water drop 100 feet over the course of the falls.

Falls Park is home to the free, historic Wells Fargo Falls Park Sound and Light Show. The Sound and Light Show features information about the history of Sioux Falls and is shown at dusk, weather-permitting, from Memorial Day through Labor Day.

Falls Park Visitor Information Center

The Visitor Information Center offers guidance to those visiting the city as well as a variety of Sioux Falls souvenirs. A five-story viewing tower is also available. Hours vary with season.

For more information about Sioux Falls, contact the Sioux Falls Convention and Visitors Bureau at 605-336-1620 or log on to www.siouxfallscvb.com.

April 15-Sept. 30 Open Daily 9 a.m.-9 p.m.
Oct. 1-April 14 open weekends 9 a.m.-5 p.m.
605-367-7430

Falls Park Historic Sites

Horse Barn Arts Center
Built in the late 1800s, the Horse Barn Arts Center now houses an art gallery featuring different local art exhibits each month. There is a gift show and a variety of activities in the stall level — including artist demonstrations, hands-on activities, classes, poetry readings or musical performances. Open year-round, hours vary.

Monarch of the Plains Statue
Beautifully sculpted from a 12-ton piece of mahogany granite mined in the Milbank, SD, area, the “Monarch” is a work of art created by Darold Bailey. The fundraising and organizational efforts bringing the sculpture to Falls Park were led by Shirley Savage.

Falls Overlook Cafe
Visit the Falls Overlook Cafe on the east bank of the Big Sioux River in Falls Park. Located in the restored 1908 Sioux Falls Light and Power Company hydroelectric plant, the restaurant serves a variety of family-friendly foods and beverages to be enjoyed both inside and out. Historical exhibits are on display.

Millrace and Dam
Originally constructed to provide power for the Queen Bee Mill in the 1880s, the dam was raised in 1908 to supply power to the hydroelectric plant. Today the millrace is a viewing platform.

Falls Park Festivals
Falls Park is also home to numerous festivals throughout the year: May-October: Downtown Farmers Market (Saturdays); June: Festival of Cultures, Artfalls Fine Arts Festival; November-January: Winter Wonderland Falls Park historic sites

Queen Bee Mill
The remains of the seven-story Queen Bee Mill, a brainchild of Richard Pettigrew, lie on the east side of the river. In the fall of 1878 Pettigrew decided Sioux Falls needed its own mill so farmers could avoid the cost of shipping wheat to Minnesota or Wisconsin. Pettigrew acquired the land and then traveled east to locate an investor, New Jersey capitalist George I. Seney.

The mill opened on Oct. 25, 1881, and consisted of a seven-story main structure built of Sioux Quartzite quarried on site. Nearly $500,000 was spent on the construction of the state-of-the-art mill and its supporting structures. The mill could process 1,500 bushels each day. However, by 1883, the mill was closed — a victim of inadequate water power and a short supply of wheat.

Several companies tried in vain to make a success of the mill in succeeding years. In 929 it was converted into a warehouse. On Jan. 30, 1956, fire swept through the structure, destroying the wooden roof and interior floors. The upper walls were later knocked down to prevent them from falling.

Sioux Falls Light and Power Company
(now Falls Overlook Cafe)
The quartzite building still standing on the east bank is the Sioux Falls Light and Power Company building, completed in 1908. The building housed three 500-kilowatt hydroelectric generators and used the dam and the millrace from the Queen Bee Mill. In subsequent years the plant added additional coal-fired steam generators. The plant was abandoned in 1974 and donated to the city in 1977. Before remodeling took place to create the Falls Overlook Cafe, the building was in the condition much as it was when first constructed.

Seney Island
When the city was founded in 1856 a small island was located upstream of the main falls. Popularly called "The Island," later named Brookings Island and still later Seney Island after the investor who funded the Queen Bee Mill, it was a popular spot for early recreation. The channel around the island was closed in 1907 to increase flow to the hydroelectric plant.

Click here for the live Falls Park Web Cam