Washington Pavilion of Arts and Science

The Washington Pavilion of Arts and Science opened in 1999 and houses an art gallery, concert hall, large-format theater, and science museum in Sioux Falls, South Dakota, United States. Its building, the former Washington High School, is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

History

United States historic place


Washington High School
U.S. National Register of Historic Places

43°32′39″N 96°43′45″W / 43.544073°N 96.729035°W / 43.544073; -96.729035
Area	1 acre (0.40 ha)
Built	1908
Architect	Joseph Schwartz et al.
Architectural style	Classical Revival
NRHP reference No.	86000248^[1]
Added to NRHP	February 13, 1986

The Pavilion was a result of a renovation of the former building of Washington High School which was eventually moved to the northeast side of the city. The building is of Neoclassical styling and is architecturally interesting. It was designed by Sioux Falls architect Joseph Schwartz.^[2] The building's facade is created from large blocks of Sioux Quartzite, a pinkish quartzite native to the area and seen at the falls of the Big Sioux River. A small portion of the north wing is constructed of black rock which was believed to be black quartzite but is in fact corson diabase, which is hardened liquid magma.

It was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1986.^[1]^[2]

The Washington Pavilion of Arts and Science contains the Kirby Science Discovery Center, a massive 3 floor, regional, hands-on science experience.

The Pavilion also houses two performing arts centers, which play host to several Broadway productions, operas, dance and concert productions. The South Dakota Symphony's home also hosts dance groups as well as smaller theater and choral events.^[3]

The Visual Arts Center, hosts seven galleries of changing exhibits, and the Egger gallery which hosts the Northern Plains Tribal Art collection. The VAC hosts a variety local, regional and nationwide exhibitions, as well as Blockbuster exhibitions like Rodin, Andy Warhol, Ansel Adams and Toulouse-Lautrec. There are also many opportunities to participate in public programs like movies, panel discussions, art workshops, major events, etc. The VAC is free on Tuesdays, Saturday Mornings and the evenings of the First Friday of every month; otherwise there is a small fee.

The Wells Fargo Cinedome is a multiformat 60 ft dome theater which plays several different films per year. Virtually every space within the Pavilion is available for rent for business functions, weddings, receptions and conventions. The Washington Pavilion during 2023 started renovations on their cinedome turning it into the Sweetman Planetarium ^[4]

References

^ ^a ^b "National Register Information System". National Register of Historic Places. National Park Service. November 2, 2013.
^ ^a ^b Carolyn Torma (November 22, 1985). "National Register of Historic Places Inventory/Nomination: Washington High School". National Park Service. Retrieved February 15, 2022. With accompanying six photos from 1985
^ Event Venues in Sioux Falls - Washington Pavilion
^ https://www.washingtonpavilion.org/planetarium

External links

Media related to Washington Pavilion of Arts and Science at Wikimedia Commons
Pavilion website

National Register of Historic Places in Minnehaha County, South Dakota

Districts

All Saints Historic District
Cathedral Historic District
Dell Rapids Historic District
Dell Rapids Residential Historic District
Hayes Historic District
McKennan Park Historic District
Old Courthouse and Warehouse Historic District
Sherman Historic District
Sioux Falls Downtown Historic District
Slip Up Creek Homestead
Split Rock Creek Park Historic District
Terrace Park and Japanese Gardens
Thompson Farmstead
Tolefsons Beef Stock Farm
Willow Grove Farm

Buildings

Commercial and Industrial	Berg and Estensen Store 330 S. 1st Ave. 529 N. Main Carpenter Hotel Dell Rapids Warming House Farley-Loetscher Company Building Farley-Loetscher Company Building I First National Bank of Garretson Andrew Kuehn Warehouse L & A Baking Company L.D. Miller Funeral Home John Mundt Building Orpheum Theatre R.F. Pettigrew and S.L. Tate Building Phillips Block Plumbing Supply Company Dr. Fredrich A. Randolph Block Security Bank Building Shriver-Johnson Building Sioux Falls Light and Power Hydro Electric Plant Sioux Falls National Bank Building Gina Smith Campbell Bathhouse Stock Yards State Bank and Tri-State Wholesale Grocery Co. Texaco Super Service Station John W. Tuthill Lumber Company
Education	All Saints School Main Building Augustana College Historic Buildings Carnegie Free Public Library Carnegie Public Library Glidden-Martin Hall Grand Lodge and Library of the Ancient Free and Accepted Masons Jorden Hall South Dakota School for the Deaf Washington High School
Government	Central Fire Station East Site Fire Station and Branch Library Federal Building and United States Courthouse Odd Fellows Home of Dell Rapids Old Minnehaha County Courthouse South Dakota State Penitentiary Historic Buildings South Side Fire Station No. 3
Religious	First Congregational Church Josephine Martin Glidden Memorial Chapel Renner Lutheran Sanctuary St. Peter's Lutheran Church
Residential	Andrew O. Huseboe House Austin-Olson Farm Berdahl-Rolvaag House Blackstone Court Apartments^† Marion E. Bowen House Brooks Brothers Home Margaret Burger Apartment House Edward Coughran House E.J. and Alice Daniels House Harrison DeLong House Ole E. Fauske House The Gloria House Orlan A. Hayward House Hans J. Hilmoe Barn LaSalle Apartments Daniel Lund House William G. Milne House Parmley-Pankow House Presentation Children's Home Grant J. Reynolds House Shafer Round Barn R.D. and Mary Springer House Stadum-Green House Dr. Steven's House Charles A. Thomas House Laura M. Welch House Williams Piano Company House
Transportation	Illinois Central Passenger Depot Rock Island Depot