McKennan Park
located in Sioux Falls, South Dakota 

This wonderful park can trace it's lineage quite far back in the history of Sioux Falls. As early as the 1890s, town residents were already talking about creating a tree filled park and gathering area. Mrs. Helen McKennan and her brother Artemus Gale were instrumental in planting trees in the area and in 1906 Mrs McKennan decided to give her house and 20 acre estate to the city for use as a park. E.A. Sherman, the unofficial park commissioner spearheaded the planting of elm, walnut and other trees and flowers in those early years. He also added a bandshell, tennis courts, greenhouses (later torn down) and a small lake.

Today the park has a variety of formal gardens, several war memorial trees, rock gardens, a rose garden area, sunken garden and cactus garden. One of the famous attractions in the park is the Pillars of the Nation which were two entrance posts originally built of decorative stones, fossils, and Indian artifacts in the 30s. Later two other posts were added that had each state's initials carved into the stone, as well as two stone maps of South Dakota.



Listed in Categories: Child Friendly ~ Historical ~ Park ~ Roses




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The WPA Guide to South Dakota: The Federal Writers' Project Guide to 1930s South Dakota
by: Federal Writers Project
Rolling prairie grasslands in the east, surreal Badlands and lush Black Hills in the west: South Dakota is a state of vivid contrasts. In this classic and now-rare guide to Depression-era South Dakota, you can discover the historic byways and back roads of this beautiful state. Originally part of the American Guide Series, this book was written both to chronicle the physical and cultural ... [reviews]


Wingshooter's Guide to South Dakota (Wingshooter's Guide) (Wingshooter's Guide)
by: Chuck Johnson
South Dakota is the premier pheasant capital of the United States. The Wingshooter's Guide to South Dakota covers how, when, and where to go for outstanding pheasant hunting. South Dakota is also known for its great duck and goose hunting, as well as its sharptail grouse, prairie chicken, Hungarian partridge, and turkeys. Author Chuck Johnson covers all of the hunting possibilities for both the ... [reviews]


Roadside Geology of South Dakota (Roadside Geology Series)
by: John Paul Gries
South Dakota fills the landscape with geologic diversity, from the glaciated rolling prairies in the east, across the Missouri River, and west to the rugged Badlands Wall and granitic domes of the Black Hills. Written for the layperson and amply illustrated with photographs, maps, and diagrams, this book describes and interprets the rocks and landforms visible along the state's highways and the ... [reviews]


Compass American Guides: South Dakota, 3rd Edition
by: Fodor's
Created by local writers and photographers, Compass American Guides are the ultimate insider's guides, providing in-depth coverage of the history, culture and character of America's most spectacular destinations. Compass South Dakota covers everything there is to see and do -- plus gorgeous full-color photographs; a wealth of archival images; topical essays and literary extracts; detailed color ... [reviews]


It Happened in South Dakota: Remarkable Events That Shaped History (It Happened In Series)
by: Patrick Straub

A fascinating collection of thirty compelling stories about events that shaped the Mount Rushmore State, It Happened in South Dakota describes everything from Lewis and Clark raising an American flag on the Missouri to the continuing creation of a monument to Crazy Horse.

[reviews]



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