South Dakota Air and Space Museum
About This Museum
Tucked right at the gate of Ellsworth Air Force Base, this place is a hidden gem for anyone who loves the roar of a jet engine or the quiet awe of space exploration. You can spend hours wandering among the giants of the sky outside before ducking indoors to see everything from vintage flight gear to intricate models that tell the story of aviation. The sheer scale of the B-1B Lancer bomber, parked just outside, absolutely dominates the landscape and gives you a real sense of power. It’s a wonderfully personal and immersive experience that feels miles away from a stuffy, formal museum.
Collection Highlights
Don't miss walking right up to the massive B-1B Lancer or peering down into the authentic Minuteman Missile silo—it's a chillingly real piece of Cold War history. Inside, you'll find everything from classic warbirds like the F-4 Phantom to fascinating artifacts from local aerospace history.
Visitor Information
The best part? It's completely free to visit, which is almost unheard of for a collection this cool. Just remember to bring your ID for base access if you want to tour the actual missile site, as that requires a separate, scheduled bus tour.
Architecture & Building
The main indoor exhibits are housed in a simple, functional building that feels appropriately utilitarian for an airbase, but the real 'architecture' here is the open-air landscape itself, with aircraft parked under the vast South Dakota sky.
Contact & Location
Address: South Dakota Air and Space Museum, 2890, Rushmore Drive, Box Elder, Pennington County, South Dakota, 57706, United States
Phone: +1 605-385-5188
Website: Visit Website
