Discover 8 hidden attractions, cool sights, and unusual things to do in Brookings (United States). Don't miss out on these must-see attractions: McCrory Gardens, Coughlin Campanile, and South Dakota Agricultural Heritage Museum. Also, be sure to include Children's Museum of South Dakota in your itinerary.
Below, you can find the list of the most amazing places you should visit in Brookings (South Dakota).
Table of Contents
McCrory Gardens
Botanical garden in Brookings, South Dakota. McCrory Gardens and South Dakota State Arboretum are botanical gardens and an arboretum located on the South Dakota State University campus in Brookings, South Dakota.
McCrory Gardens is operated and maintained by South Dakota State University and named in honor of Professor S. A. McCrory, head of SDSU's horticulture department from 1947 until his death in 1964.
McCrory Gardens has over 25 acres of formal display gardens and 45 acres of arboretum featuring hundreds of different flowers, trees, shrubs and grasses in harmonious settings to display, educate, and further the development of new varieties.
The South Dakota State Arboretum features trees and shrubs that are adapted to South Dakota's climate. In addition new selections of trees and shrubs are trialed to test their adaptability to local growing conditions.
The gardens are funded primarily by donations, memberships, admission fees, special gifts, and endowment returns. Ongoing research continues to provide new information to the scientific community and the public on the introduction, cultivation, and arrangement of native and domesticated plants. The testing and evaluation of new woody plant selections and varieties in the climate of the northern Great Plains, initiated by Niels Ebbesen Hansen almost three-quarters of a century ago, remains an integral part of research.[1]
Address: 631 22nd Ave, 57007-0004 Brookings
Coughlin Campanile
The Coughlin Campanile was completed on the campus of South Dakota State University in 1929. It was designed by architects Perkins & McWayne. It was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1987.
Per its National Register nomination, it "is considered by many as the most outstanding chimes tower in South Dakota. As the tallest campanile in the state, the structure is an important landmark for the campus of South Dakota State University and to the city of Brookings."
At a cost of $75,000, it was a gift to the University from Charles Coughlin, a graduate from the class of 1909. The Campanile is a chimes tower that rises to 165 feet with 180 steps to the top observation platform open to the public, and is located on Medary Avenue. The tower's chimes cover three octaves and can be "played" manually from an organ in the nearby Lincoln Music Hall. The Campanile also appears in SDSU's business logo and on most letterheads.
In August 2000, as a part of "Visions for the Future" campaign, over 4,000 alumni and businesses donated a total of $540,000 to have the Campanile restored. This restoration included mortar work and replacement of parts of the limestone base.
For many years the Coughlin Campanile was the tallest structure in South Dakota, and is today an iconic structure both on campus, and across the larger Brookings community.
Its distinctive red lamp at the top is a familiar beacon on a dark prairie night that welcomes travelers from dozens of miles away.
The chime does not work at this time. Once working, this paragraph will be removed.[2]
Address: 815 Medary Ave, Brookings
South Dakota Agricultural Heritage Museum
History museum, Gift shop, Museum
Address: 925 11th St, 57006 Brookings
Children's Museum of South Dakota
Children's museum, History museum, Museum
Address: 521 4th St, 57006 Brookings
South Dakota State University
Public university in Brookings, South Dakota. South Dakota State University is a public land-grant research university in Brookings, South Dakota. Founded in 1881, it is the state's largest and most comprehensive university and the oldest continually-operating university in South Dakota. The university is governed by the South Dakota Board of Regents, which governs the state's six public universities and two special schools.
South Dakota State University is a land-grant university founded under the provisions of the 1862 Morrill Act. This land-grant heritage and mission has led the university to place a special focus on academic programs in agriculture, engineering, nursing, and pharmacy, as well as liberal arts. It is classified among "R2: Doctoral Universities – High research activity". The graduate program is classified as Doctoral, Science, Technology, Engineering, Math dominant.[3]
Address: SDSU Campus, Brookings
Brookings Public Library
Courthouse in Brookings, South Dakota. Brookings County Courthouse, located at the intersection of 4th St. and 6th Ave. in Brookings, is Brookings County, South Dakota's county courthouse. The courthouse was built in 1912 to replace the county's original courthouse, which was constructed in 1883. Architects C. E. Bell, Tyrie & Chapman designed the courthouse in the Renaissance Revival style, which was common in early 20th century buildings. The J. B. Nelson Construction Company built the courthouse.
The courthouse was added to the National Register of Historic Places on December 12, 1976. In 2011, the county began a $1 million renovation of the courthouse in order to meet the local circuit court's needs.[4]
Address: 515 3rd St, 57006 Brookings
Wecota
Wenona Hall and Wecota Hall at South Dakota State University in Brookings, South Dakota are women's dormitories that were built in 1909 and 1915. John J. Schwartz was architect. The combination was listed on the U.S. National Register of Historic Places in 1980.
The buildings were deemed to be "significant in the areas of architecture and education" and "good examples of early 20th century academic architecture"; Schwartz is held to have achieved "balance and order" in using neoclassical architecture despite constraints of large scale and many necessary window openings.[5]
DYKHOUSE STUDENT ATHLETE CENTER
Stadium. The Dana J. Dykhouse Stadium is an American football stadium in Brookings, South Dakota, United States, on the campus of South Dakota State University. It is the home venue of the South Dakota State Jackrabbits football team. The stadium, which was constructed in phases on the previous Coughlin-Alumni Stadium site, seats 19,340 spectators. The stadium was funded through private gifts and long-term revenue streams, including expanded club seats, loge boxes, and a premium suite level. Lead gifts totaling $12.5 million from Sioux Falls banker Dana Dykhouse and philanthropist T. Denny Sanford were announced in October 2013. The stadium opened in 2016.
The stadium project was approved by the state Legislature during the 2014 session and signed into law by Governor Dennis Daugaard. Construction began in the fall of 2014 with the east and south stands completed in August 2015. The remainder of the project was finished by the next football season in August 2016. Dana J. Dykhouse Stadium replaced old Coughlin–Alumni Stadium.[6]
Address: 1396 Stadium Rd, 57007 Brookings