The Dakotaland Museum on the S.D. State Fairgrounds, billed as the “Best Kept Secret in Huron,” is getting ready to open for the season.

And what an opening do we have planned!

Beginning Memorial weekend, we will be open Saturday and Sunday from 1 to 4 p.m. and Monday to Friday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. These are our regular hours all summer.

The S.D. State Fair gave us a beautiful display case which has been positioned just inside the front door. A new and improved “Merci Train” exhibit, aka the boxcar display, is in it, along with an expanded luncheon/diner exhibit and early business items.

Come to the Museum and check out the “Merci Train,” which is a remembrance to all World War I and II veterans and check out the Cub Lunch “WWII Nuts and Sweets” display. This is a great way to remember and honor the veterans in your family on Memorial Day weekend.

Wait, no veterans in your family? Not to worry! We found a scale model of the Memorial Park Baseball Field which measures 4-foot by 6-foot and we will have it on display behind our collection of baseball memorabilia. Spring, after all, is the season of ‘Batter up’ and ‘Strike three, you’re out.’

And if baseball is not your thing, we have a 1927 model T racecar; camping gear which was made for mounting on the running board of a model T car, which we also have; and a slew of other exhibits ranging from agricultural equipment to Native American artifacts to taxidermy specimens to household items.

We have also opened the Log Cabin so visitors can go inside, and have expanded that exhibit as well.

Since we lost all our trees in front to the recent storm, we are very visible on Third Street across from the Game, Fish & Parks Building and the French Boxcar.

So, join us Memorial weekend, or any day all summer. We look forward to welcoming you!

Louise Van Poll is the Executive Director of the Dakotaland Museum, Pyle House Museum and the Centennial Stone Church Center.