The Minnehaha County Courthouse, completed in 1890, is one of the finest Romanesque Revival buildings in the upper Midwest — a massive pink quartzite pile with a corner tower and elaborate stone carving. It served as the county courthouse until 1962, then became a history museum.
Inside, the original courtroom has been preserved in remarkable condition, complete with the bench, jury box, and public gallery. Local history exhibits cover Native American history, pioneer settlement, and the city's more surprising past: at the turn of the 20th century, Sioux Falls was the divorce capital of America, as South Dakota had the most permissive divorce laws in the country, drawing wealthy clients from across the East Coast. The courthouse was central to that era. Admission is free, and the building alone is worth the stop.