The Washington Pavilion occupies the former Washington High School in downtown Sioux Falls, a pink Sioux quartzite landmark on South Main Avenue that reopened in 1999 as a combined performing arts, visual arts, and science center. Visitors come for Broadway tours, rotating gallery shows, and three floors of hands-on science, all under one roof (source: [Washington Pavilion](https://www.washingtonpavilion.org/attractions/)).
The Kirby Science Discovery Center fills its levels with interactive exhibits on physics, the human body, and the natural world, and the Kirby Family Spaceport Theater screens dome films and planetarium programs. The Visual Arts Center runs changing exhibitions in its galleries, including work by South Dakota artists. Touring musicals, concerts, and South Dakota Symphony Orchestra performances take the stage in the Husby Performing Arts Center. Leonardo’s Cafe handles coffee and quick meals between activities.
Visitor Highlights & Practical Info
School groups often book weekday mornings during the academic year, so families looking for quieter science floors should plan for afternoons. Check current hours and holiday closures before you go (source: [Washington Pavilion Hours](https://www.washingtonpavilion.org/plan-your-visit/hours/)). Buy show tickets early for touring Broadway productions, which sell fast. The plan-your-visit page lists parking and accessibility options (source: [Plan Your Visit](https://www.washingtonpavilion.org/plan-your-visit/)). Afterward, walk a few blocks to Phillips Avenue for SculptureWalk installations and dinner, or continue north to Falls Park.
