New West River Children’s Museum Planned for Rapidly Growing Box Elder

New West River Children’s Museum Planned for Rapidly Growing Box Elder

RAPID CITY, S.D. (KOTA) - For families living in western South Dakota, a trip to a children’s museum has traditionally meant a long drive to Brookings or Sioux Falls. But a new grassroots effort in Box Elder aims to change that by building the first-ever children’s museum West River.

The proposed Black Hills Children’s Museum is currently in the planning and development phases, with organizers hoping to create a vibrant local hub of hands-on learning for children in the region.

The idea for the museum came to Box Elder Mayor Larry Larson after a family trip East River.

“It was an idea that I had from taking my granddaughter to the one in Sioux Falls and the one in Brookings,” Mayor Larson said. “I came back and said, we need to get something going here because there’s nothing West River. We’re just trying to get the word out so we can get it built.”

The project has already cleared its first major hurdle: securing a location. Local developer Hani Shafi donated a prime plot of land in Liberty Plaza, located directly south of Box Elder City Hall on Main Street, near the local YMCA and apartment complexes.

Larson emphasized the significance of the donation, noting that purchasing a similar property would have presented a major financial obstacle for the new nonprofit organization.

Unlike traditional museums focused on passive viewing, the Black Hills Children’s Museum will prioritize active, unstructured play to foster childhood development. Plans are already underway to feature custom-themed interactive exhibits that celebrate the region’s unique geography and heritage.

“We are really trying to tap into the personality of the Black Hills,” said Rebecca Bader, a member of the museum’s board of directors. “We’ve got some dinosaur exhibits planned, we’ve got some airplane plans, and we’ve even got a farm and ranch play area that I’m personally super excited about.”

Bader explained that unstructured play is critical for young minds.

“Activities like these are important for kids because it really gives them a sense of independence when they can use their imagination and there aren’t set rules or guidelines,” Bader said. “It really allows their creativity to emerge... having fun and not having any strict guidelines that can sometimes appear in other day-to-day lives.”

Current pop-up events have already begun giving local children a taste of what is to come, showcasing exhibits ranging from classic building blocks to interactive mechanical roads and aerodynamic tube-and-parachute systems.

The push for a dedicated children’s museum comes at a time of unprecedented growth for Box Elder. Supported by the ongoing expansion at nearby Ellsworth Air Force Base, specifically the arrival of the B-21 Raider bomber program, the city’s population has risen rapidly.

Mayor Larson believes the museum will serve as a vital piece of community infrastructure and a key regional tourism draw.

“Quality of life for our community and the whole Black Hills area is so important, and this will make Box Elder a destination,” Larson said. “Schools from all over the Black Hills will be coming, and parents during the summer will be bringing their kids.”

For families moving to the area with the military, or tourists exploring the Black Hills, Bader envisions the museum as a welcoming local landmark.

“I think this is the perfect community for it, and I think we’ll just embrace it,” Bader said. “Whether you’re a part of the Ellsworth community or if you’re coming into the Black Hills and you’re just getting acquainted for the tourism, I think this is going to be the perfect first stop on a great vacation.”

With the land donation finalized, the museum’s leadership is focusing on fund development. The board is actively pursuing diverse funding avenues, including state and federal grants, corporate sponsorships, and upcoming community fundraisers.

“We are definitely in the process right now,” Bader said regarding the financial rollout. “Our board members are doing a great job developing and reaching out to different entities in the area and having really good conversations as we go.”

Fundraising plans on the schedule include formal events, such as black-tie galas, alongside community-level donation drives to help secure the remaining capital required to break ground.

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