The South Dakota National Guard Museum's mission is to preserve and honor the history of the South Dakota Air and Army National Guard from the days of the Dakota Territory(1860's) to present with emphasis on various wars and conflicts. Our goal is to create a greater understanding of the significant role played by the South Dakota National Guard.

In 1862, twenty-seven years before statehood, the Dakota Territorial Legislature established the first six companies of the Dakota Militia.

Since that time, Dakota soldiers have distinguished themselves time after time in military action. The men and women of the South Dakota have fought in the Spanish-American War, World War I, World War II, Korea, Vietnam, and more recent conflicts like Operation Just Cause, the Persian Gulf War, Bosnia, Kosovo, Iraq, and Afghanistan.

The South Dakota National Guard supports humanitarian missions worldwide and is often called upon to assist in local and state emergencies such as search & rescue, floods, blizzards, and firefighting.

Artifacts and documents within the South Dakota National Guard Museum aid in telling the STORY of the South Dakota Air and Army National Guard.