Where We Are Going: A History of the SD Hall of Fame

Here in South Dakota, the people are as diverse as the landscape we call home. Individuals from all walks of life make up the spirit of South Dakota. Individuals who have contributed in agriculture, arts & entertainment, general, historical, professional, and sports. The South Dakota Hall of Fame was established to honor the legacies of these people. With over 45 years and more than 700 inductees, the South Dakota Hall of Fame is honored to showcase a Culture of Excellence here in South Dakota. 

The organization was established in 1974 and Originally named the Cowboy and Western Heritage Hall of Fame. In those first years, the organization hosted Western Weekend celebrations, along with the publication of the first issue of Dakota West, a magazine featuring the stories of South Dakotans that ran for 25 years. In 1978, 120 honorees were inducted into the hall of fame and the first honors ceremony was held during the Western Weekend Celebration. These first Hall of Fame Inductees included South Dakotans such as rodeo star Casey Tibbs, and WWII General, Lloyd Moses. After 12 years, the organization officially changed its name to the South Dakota Hall of Fame. Over the next decade, the South Dakota Hall of Fame moved from Fort Pierre to the centrally located city of Chamberlain, broke ground on a 1.5 million dollar campaign to build a visitor and education center, and inducted hundreds of amazing South Dakotans into the Hall. In 1996 the South Dakota State Legislator designated the Hall of Fame as the state’s official Hall of Fame.

Today the South Dakota Hall of Fame honors and recognizes inductees yearly during the annual Honor’s Ceremony, and features memorable inductees including Tom Brokaw, Sitting Bull, George McGovern, and more. The Visitor & Education center features amazing exhibits that are being updated and added to constantly, like one of our newest exhibits, Nicholas Black Elk: Legacy of Cultural Excellence. We are proud to be the home of multiple programs such as the Acts of Excellence program, the Legends & Learning program, Legacies of Achievement, and the Emery Lakota Language Collection.

I am honored to be a part of such a diverse and inspiring organization. It's amazing to look back at where we started, and see how far the South Dakota Hall of Fame has come. It’s exciting to think of how this organization and how South Dakota itself will grow in the next 45 years, and I personally can’t wait to see what legacies the future holds.

Greta Chapman, CEO