Dacotah Prairie Museum in Aberdeen, South Dakota

Written By Kelsey Cecil

Aberdeen, South Dakota · Updated October 19, 2026 · 11 min read

Museum with a major rail exhibitFreeFree admission, Tuesday to Saturday

The Dacotah Prairie Museum tells the story of Brown County and how westward expansion shaped this corner of South Dakota, with the railroad at the center of Aberdeen's growth, a children's frontier exhibit and a wildlife gallery, all with free admission.

  • Free admission
  • Railroad and pioneer history galleries
  • Railroad exhibit remodel underway
  • Hands-on children's frontier exhibit
  • Outreach photos in the Milwaukee Depot

Dacotah Prairie Museum at a glance

Hours
Tuesday to Friday 10 am to 5 pm, Saturday 11 am to 4 pm; closed Sunday, Monday and major holidays
Admission
Free; donations appreciated
Seasonal events
Christmas Tree Lane, Artists of the Prairie, Dakota Student Art Exhibition, Programs and Camps
Plan for
About 1 to 2 hours
Best for
Families, history fans and rail fans curious about Aberdeen
Best ages
Ages 3 to 12
Accessibility
The Milwaukee Depot outreach exhibit has elevator and stair access

Hours and prices as the museum posts them, checked October 19, 2026. Confirm before you go.

Look inside the book

Taking the kids to Dacotah Prairie Museum? Bring Rally along.

In Rally Takes the Train, a corgi's little legs can't manage the big train stairs, so Dad gives him a boost. It takes about five minutes to read, a good fit for the drive to Aberdeen.

Page 1 of 8

Rally Takes the Train book cover: a watercolor corgi peeking from a red train

Like it so far? See the full book

25 hand-painted pages, paperback, $13.99 with fast shipping from Amazon.

Buy on Amazon (opens in a new tab)

Every page is real watercolor on paper, painted by hand by Leslie Dunn. Nothing in this book was made with AI.

Aberdeen, the railroad hub of the Dakotas

The Dacotah Prairie Museum is Brown County's history museum, set on South Main Street in downtown Aberdeen. Its galleries trace how the westward expansion of the United States formed this region culturally and economically, and the railroad is a central thread: the museum explores the history of the railroad alongside the pioneer settlers who came with it.

That rail story is getting new attention. The museum is raising money for Aberdeen All Aboard! Railroad Hub of the Dakotas, a remodel of its railroad exhibit. Gifts go toward track, train cars, engines, diorama scenery and the building and electrical materials needed to bring the exhibit to life, and the museum invites visitors and rail fans to contribute.

The museum is supported by Brown County and by the Dacotah Prairie Museum Foundation, an independent nonprofit that owns the collection and runs The Mercantile gift shop. Only about 10 percent of the collection is on view at any time, and exhibits are planned more than a year ahead, so the galleries keep changing. Staff also take the collection out into Aberdeen through outreach exhibits, including a display of 23 archival photos of early Aberdeen businesses inside the city's historic Milwaukee Depot.

Galleries on the railroad, the prairie and the wider world

Walk-in visitors can pick up a Self-Guided Tour pamphlet at the front desk and browse at their own pace. The galleries cover Brown County history, including the railroad and pioneer settlement, while a children's exhibit lets families try out frontier life. The Hatterscheidt Wildlife Gallery is a change of scene, with animals from Africa, Asia and beyond. Changing shows such as The Presentation Sisters Legacy, on view July 18 to October 31, 2026, round out a visit.

Rail fans should also stop at the Milwaukee Depot Business Suites at 10 Railroad Ave SW, the historic train depot at Main Street and Railroad Avenue. Its second floor hosts the museum's outreach exhibit Open for Business: Places of Commerce and Industry, and it is open to the public during weekday business hours, with elevator and stair access.

Don’t miss

  1. The railroad history galleryExplores how the railroad and the settlers it carried built Brown County and Aberdeen.
  2. Aberdeen All Aboard! remodelThe museum's fundraising project to rebuild its railroad exhibit with new track, train cars, engines and dioramas.
  3. Milwaukee Depot outreach exhibitTwenty-three archival photos of early Aberdeen businesses, shown inside the historic depot on Railroad Avenue.
  4. The children's frontier exhibitA hands-on space where families experience frontier life together.
  5. Hatterscheidt Wildlife GalleryA gallery of wildlife from Africa, Asia and other continents, a change of pace from local history.

Frontier play and big animals

The children's exhibit lets families experience frontier life, and the wildlife gallery gives kids plenty to point at. Admission is free, so a short visit with toddlers costs nothing but time, and the museum also runs programs and camps listed on its events calendar.

Train-loving kids will want to watch for progress on the Aberdeen All Aboard railroad exhibit, which is being rebuilt with new track, engines and dioramas.

Plan your visit: tips for Dacotah Prairie Museum

  • Pick up the Self-Guided Tour pamphlet at the front desk.
  • Check the holiday closing list before visiting near a holiday.
  • Groups can book a guided tour year-round by appointment, and after-hours tours with enough notice.
  • Visit the Milwaukee Depot outreach exhibit on a weekday, when the building is open.
  • The archives are open to the public with some limits; contact the museum first.

Each holiday season the museum hosts Christmas Tree Lane, listed on its events calendar, a festive reason to stop in downtown Aberdeen. For a holiday ride on real rails, see our roundup of Christmas train rides in South Dakota.

Brown County and the museum foundation

Brown County supports the museum's operations, and the Dacotah Prairie Museum Foundation owns the collection and runs The Mercantile gift shop. Visitors can help through membership, donations to the Aberdeen All Aboard railroad exhibit project, shopping at The Mercantile, or offering artifacts used in Brown County that tell the story of life on the Dakota prairie.

Rail stops to pair with Aberdeen

The nearest train ride is Prairie Village Railroad near Madison, about 120 miles away. North into North Dakota, the Bonanzaville railroad collection in West Fargo is about 123 miles, and the Historic Northern Pacific Depot in Fargo is about 127. See every South Dakota train museum.

Every train museum in South Dakota

Bring Rally along: a train book for the drive

Watercolor of Rally the corgi looking out an arched train window at the ocean and a white bird
From Rally Takes the Train, watercolor by Leslie Dunn.

Aberdeen's museum is raising money for new track, engines and diorama scenery for its railroad exhibit, and I love picturing the tiny windows on those little train cars. In our book, Rally presses up to an arched window, watches the ocean and says hello to a white bird. Every window on a train is a small story waiting to be told, and my kids now try reading those stories aloud to me.

Free for train families

Print the Rally coloring pages before you go

Watercolor coloring pages from the book, free to print. Tuck a few in a folder with crayons for the drive or the wait for the next train.

Get the free coloring pages
Rally Takes the Train book cover: a watercolor corgi peeking from a red train

A train story for the ride homeRally Takes the Train is a five-minute rhyming picture book about a corgi's first train trip to see his grand-paw-rents. Hand-painted in real watercolor. $13.99 on Amazon, for ages 0 to 8.

Buy on Amazon (opens in a new tab)

More for train families

Work or volunteer at Dacotah Prairie Museum?

We want this page to be the best introduction to your museum on the web. Send new hours, event dates, corrections or photos to kelsey@rallytakesthetrain.com and we will update it. You are welcome to share this page with your members.

Sources

Everything on this page comes from the museum’s own website and social pages and, for history, Wikipedia, checked October 19, 2026.

Dacotah Prairie Museum: 20 questions before you visit

Does the Dacotah Prairie Museum have a railroad exhibit?

Yes. The Dacotah Prairie Museum explores the history of the railroad and the pioneer settlers who shaped Brown County. It is currently raising funds for Aberdeen All Aboard! Railroad Hub of the Dakotas, a remodel of its railroad exhibit, so call (605) 626-7117 to ask what is on display during your visit.

What is the Aberdeen All Aboard railroad exhibit project?

Aberdeen All Aboard! Railroad Hub of the Dakotas is the Dacotah Prairie Museum's project to remodel its railroad exhibit. Donations will buy track, train cars, engines, diorama scenery and building and electrical materials. You can contribute through the donate and support section of the museum's website.

Is the Dacotah Prairie Museum free?

Yes. As of October 2026, admission to the Dacotah Prairie Museum is free, and donations are appreciated. The museum is supported by Brown County and the Dacotah Prairie Museum Foundation. Special programs or camps may have their own registration, so check the events calendar.

What are the Dacotah Prairie Museum hours?

As of October 2026, the galleries and gift shop are open Tuesday through Friday from 10 am to 5 pm and Saturday from 11 am to 4 pm. The museum is closed Sundays, Mondays and major holidays. Office hours are Monday through Friday, 8 am to 5 pm.

Where is the Dacotah Prairie Museum?

The Dacotah Prairie Museum is at 21 S. Main St. in downtown Aberdeen, South Dakota 57401. The museum's location page has directions. Its outreach exhibit in the historic Milwaukee Depot is a short distance away at 10 Railroad Ave SW, at Main Street and Railroad Avenue.

What holidays is the Dacotah Prairie Museum closed?

The museum closes on major holidays, including New Year's Day, Martin Luther King Jr. Day, Presidents' Day, the Easter weekend, Memorial Day, Juneteenth, Independence Day, Labor Day, Indigenous Peoples' Day, Veterans Day, Thanksgiving and Christmas. Black Friday has had special hours. Check the hours page or Facebook for current dates.

What can kids do at the Dacotah Prairie Museum?

Kids can explore a children's exhibit that lets families experience frontier life, and the Hatterscheidt Wildlife Gallery shows animals from Africa, Asia and beyond. The museum also runs programs and camps, listed on its events calendar. Free admission makes it easy to visit for a short stretch with young children.

What is in the Hatterscheidt Wildlife Gallery?

The Hatterscheidt Wildlife Gallery at the Dacotah Prairie Museum is a departure from local history, displaying wildlife from Africa, Asia and other parts of the world. It sits alongside the Brown County history galleries and gives families with children a different kind of gallery to explore.

What is the Milwaukee Depot outreach exhibit in Aberdeen?

The Dacotah Prairie Museum has placed an outreach exhibit called Open for Business: Places of Commerce and Industry on the second floor of the Milwaukee Depot Business Suites, the historic train depot at 10 Railroad Ave SW. It features 23 archival photos of early Aberdeen businesses and is open during weekday business hours.

Can groups book a tour of the Dacotah Prairie Museum?

Yes. Guided tours are available year-round by appointment, and after-hours tours can be arranged with enough notice. Contact the museum at (605) 626-7117 with your group name, preferred date and time, number of guests, any special needs and a contact name and number.

Can I take a self-guided tour of the Dacotah Prairie Museum?

Yes. Walk-in visitors are welcome during regular hours, and a Self-Guided Tour pamphlet is available near the front desk. You can browse the Brown County history exhibits at your own pace, including the railroad and pioneer galleries and the wildlife gallery.

How long does a visit to the Dacotah Prairie Museum take?

Plan about one to two hours to see the galleries, the children's exhibit and the wildlife gallery. If you also visit the outreach exhibit at the Milwaukee Depot or browse The Mercantile gift shop, allow a little more time. Exhibits change often, so return visits can feel new.

Does the Dacotah Prairie Museum have a gift shop?

Yes. The Mercantile gift shop is run by the Dacotah Prairie Museum Foundation, and it keeps the same hours as the galleries: Tuesday through Friday 10 am to 5 pm and Saturday 11 am to 4 pm. Purchases help support the museum and its collection.

Does the Dacotah Prairie Museum hold Christmas events?

Yes. Christmas Tree Lane is one of the museum's recurring events and appears on its calendar each holiday season. Note that the museum closes for several days around Christmas, so check the events and holiday closing pages, or the Facebook page, before you plan a December visit.

What other events does the Dacotah Prairie Museum host?

The museum's recurring events include Artists of the Prairie, the Dakota Student Art Exhibition and Christmas Tree Lane, plus programs and camps for kids. Temporary exhibits change through the year; The Presentation Sisters Legacy runs July 18 to October 31, 2026. Registration for programs is on the museum's website.

Are the Dacotah Prairie Museum archives open to the public?

Yes, with some limitations. Researchers and educators can use the museum's archives by arrangement. Contact the museum by phone at (605) 626-7117 or by email at dacotahprairiemuseum@gmail.com before you come so staff can explain what is available and how to access it.

How do I donate an artifact to the Dacotah Prairie Museum?

Contact the museum by phone at (605) 626-7117 or by email with a description of the item and its history. The museum looks for items used in Brown County that tell the story of life on the Dakota prairie. Space is limited, donations must be unconditional gifts with clear title, and staff cannot appraise items.

Why doesn't the Dacotah Prairie Museum show more of its collection?

The museum displays only about 10 percent of its collection at any one time. Exhibits are planned more than a year ahead and change regularly, and staff welcome suggestions for future topics. That is one reason the railroad exhibit remodel is such a big project for the museum.

Who runs the Dacotah Prairie Museum?

The museum is supported by Brown County and by the Dacotah Prairie Museum Foundation, an independent nonprofit that owns the collection and operates The Mercantile gift shop. Staff and a board of directors guide the museum, and visitors can help through membership and donations.

What train museums are near Aberdeen?

Prairie Village Railroad near Madison, about 120 miles away, offers train rides in summer, and the South Dakota Agricultural Heritage Museum in Brookings is about 115 miles. In North Dakota, the Bonanzaville railroad collection in West Fargo is about 123 miles and the Historic Northern Pacific Depot in Fargo is about 127.

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