Discover Washington Pavilion of Arts and Science in South Dakota

The Washington Pavilion of Arts and Science contains the Kirby Science Discover Center, as well as two performing arts centers that host several Broadway productions and operas. This is the region's home for the arts, entertainment and science offers endless possibilities for fun and learning.

The Arts Pavilion was a result of a renovation 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. 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.

Kirby Science Discover Center

The Washington Pavilion of Arts and Science contains the Kirby Science Discover Center, a massive 3 floor, regional, hands-on science experience. You'll have so much fun you won't realize how much you're learning when you visit the Kirby Science Discovery Center. With more than 100 interactive, hands-on exhibits, Kirby Science Discover Center offers an incredible array of fun and educational activities for all ages. There's always something new to see and do, from exploring space to learning about tornadoes, from rock climbing to making music and movies.

The Visual Arts Center

The Visual Arts Center, hosts seven galleries of changing exhibits, and the Egger gallery which hosts the Northern Plains Tribal Art collection. The Visual Arts Center 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 Visual Arts Center 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

The Wells Fargo Cinedome is a multiformat 60 ft dome theater which plays a variety of Hollywood films and mission-based, educational documentaries each year. The Wells Fargo CineDome offers a cinema experience unlike any other in Sioux Falls. With a 60-foot wide, four-story screen and eight rocking channels of digital sound through 24 speakers, you’ll be right in the middle of the action with stellar visuals.