Charleen – St. Joseph's Indian School

Visit St. Joseph’s Akta Lakota Museum!

Summer is in full swing here at the Akta Lakota Museum and Historical Center!

Char Historical Center Coordinator — Char
Historical Center Coordinator

Seasonal staff started May 1 and we have been busy with summer camps, RV tours and many visitors from around the world.

Stop in and say hello to me at the reception desk! It is always a pleasure to meet our visitors and help make your visit a memorable experience. I highly recommend that you stop by to tour our museum and campus to learn more about the history of the Lakota (Sioux) people and get a more in-depth look at the work done at St. Joseph’s Indian School. We also have two gift shops with a fine selection of jewelry, books, quilts, pottery and many more items to help you find the perfect souvenir from your summer vacation.

We are open seven days per week during the summer:

Monday – Saturday 8:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m.

Sunday 9:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.

Campus Tour Options:

A self-guided audio tour to use in your car as you drive around campus.
An mp3 player for a walking tour.
Guided tours are at 10:30 a.m. & 1:30 p.m. Monday – Saturday.

This is approximately a 1 mile walking tour (transportation can be arranged if needed).

A private guided tour for a different day or time is available by appointment only.
The Akta Lakota Museum & Cultural Center shares the history of the Lakota (Sioux) people.

Museum Tour Options:

Guided museum tours available by appointment.

All options are free of charge.

To schedule a guided tour just give me a call at 800-798-3452 or email me at muscd@stjo.org. I’m so excited to help you arrange your tour! All tours begin at the Akta Lakota Museum. For the safety of the Lakota children who live on our campus, we ask all visitors to please check in at the reception

area at the museum upon arrival.

Hope to see you soon!

Char

Historical Center Coordinator

Visit the Akta Lakota Museum & Cultural Center today! — Welcome to the Akta Lakota Museum & Cultural Center!

Visit St. Joseph’s Indian School & the Akta Lakota Museum!

Here we are at the end of April, and May is almost upon on us. In South Dakota, we have been blessed this April with much needed moisture and we even had a snow day at St. Joseph’s Indian School!

The month of May brings many changes in weather, landscape and fashion (bye bye snow boots, gloves, hats… hello flip-flops and sunscreen)!

May also brings many changes to the Akta Lakota Museum & Cultural Center and our new Historical Center, Tokéya uŋkí nájiŋpi (We Stood Here in the Beginning).

Tokéya uŋkí nájiŋpi (We Stood Here in the Beginning) Historical & Alumni Center mission is to preserve memories and bear witness to the diversity; challenges; and accomplishments of the religious; students; staff and benefactors of St. Joseph’s Indian School since its founding in 1927 — Construction on the historical center began in October 2011 on St. Joseph’s campus.

New summer staff will begin, the finishing touches of the renovation are being completed in the museum and historical center, the dedication for the historical center is set for May 12, and our summer hours begin!

Beginning May 1, operating hours at the Akta Lakota Museum are:

Monday through Saturday, 8:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m.
Sunday, 9:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.

Would you like a campus tour during your visit?

Campus Tours Options:

A self-guided audio tour to use in your car as you drive around campus
An mp3 player for a walking tour
Guided tours are at 10:30 a.m. and 1:30 p.m. Monday through Saturday. This is approximately a 1-mile walking tour, (transportation is available if needed).
A private guided tour for a different day or time is available by appointment only.

All options are free of charge.

To schedule a guided tour, or if you have any questions, please contact Charleen at muscd@stjo.org or call 800-798-3452. All tours begin at the Akta Lakota Museum. For the safety of the Lakota (Sioux) children who live on our campus, we ask that all visitors please check in at the reception area at the Akta Lakota Museum upon their arrival. Get directions.

Let summer begin!

Visit us for a tour!

The Medicine Wheel Garden will offer a quiet place for reflection and respite on St. Joseph’s campus. — The addition to the building is finished, but some displays are still under construction in the new Tokéya uŋkí nájiŋpi (We stood here in the beginning) Historical/Alumni Center.

I’m Charleen, the Historical Center Coordinator; I joined the team in October 2012. I have worked at the museum as a seasonal part-time employee the past three summers. I have always had a love of history and I am honored to be the Coordinator for the Historical Center. My responsibilities include greeting visitors to St. Joseph’s and giving guided campus tours. I am looking forward to helping our visitors learn more about the history of St. Joseph’s Indian School and the great Lakota (Sioux) Culture.

Construction of the Tokéya uŋkí nájiŋpi (We stood here in the beginning) Historical/Alumni Center is still in progress. However, the Historical Center is now open to visitors and some of the displays have been completed. The displays are amazing and a visit is highly recommended. The Medicine Wheel Garden will be completed this spring. Native plants and landscaping will complete the project, once the chill of winter has gone.

Currently, guided campus tours are available at 10:30 a.m. Monday through Friday. Tours can be scheduled at a different time if this does not fit your schedule. Transportation can be arranged for any tour.

All tours begin at the Akta Lakota Museum.
Summer schedule: May 1- October 31, daily tours will be at 10:30 a.m. and 1:30 p.m. Monday – Saturday.

In addition, visitors can enjoy a self-guided tour with additional options available at the Historical Center.

A cd to put in your car player
An mp3 player for a walking tour.

All options are free of charge.

To schedule a tour please call me at 800-798-3452 or email me at muscd@stjo.org