The Mead Museum is a beautiful, vibrant center showcasing local and regional history. Housed in a beautiful 1909 building with its original Italian marble staircase, it's a must-see destination on every trip to Yankton, South Dakota! The stately Mead building was originally used as patient housing for women as part of the Yankton State Hospital operations until the 1980’s. There are 3 floors of exhibits to explore: an interactive Children's Transportation Museum, a Lewis & Clark exhibit – featuring a rare 4” Jefferson Peace Medal - as well as artifacts from the history of the Yankton State Hospital and Yankton College. NOW OPEN: A Dakota Story, a 2500 square foot permanent exhibit about Yankton, South Dakota's first 100 years! 12 galleries of artifacts and historical data! Also, the ever-evolving outside Heritage Park will bring history to life through buildings such as the 1906 Gunderson school house, a Great Northern Railroad Depot and more. Temporary exhibits highlighting Dakota Territory and Yankton County history change each summer. Each year starting the day after Thanksgiving and throughout the month of December, the museum is filled with unique cheery Christmas trees decorated by local businesses and organizations for the Hall of Trees. The Mead Museum is open year-round.