Lego Mania
The Museum of Visual Materials is looking to host its first Lego Display but we can’t do it without your help! The museums new Revive program is setup where the displays are provided by the community. This means two things. 1. Your memorabilia and hard work such as a lego display will be shown for a two month time frame. 2. Others will get to enjoy your hard work and creativity as well.
Every two months a new community display will be hosted at the museum. November and December hosted the Hero’s of our community who have served in the war. Starting January 20th and going through the end of February the museum will host a Lego display. Full Lego displays, custom creations, and more. This display is for all ages to show off their building talents. 
Please contact the Museum at 605-271-9500 to display your creations starting January 20th. Entries are still welcome if you don’t get your creations in by or before the 20th. We look forward to displaying your work at the Museum of Visual Materials and make sure to stop down for the viewing for the general public.
Sioux Falls Museum Brings in Local Displays
The Museum of Visual Materials has allowed guests to interact with the displays that we have had through the last 5 years. Now, we are going to do something different. We want the Sioux Falls community to be the displays. We are opening up the museum for people in the Sioux Empire area to display the memories and stories on the shelves so others may enjoy them as well. Every two months the museum will have a new community display. Each display will have a unique theme where the community can show off their collections weather it be Veterans, Exotic Locations, Museum Lego Competition, Quilts, Upcylce, Vintage Barbies, etc. Starting November of 2012 we will have a two month rotation where the community can open up those boxes that have been sitting in the attic for years and proudly display their collections. The first collection in honor of Veterans Day will be “Remembering our Veterans.” This display will be proudly honor those who have fought for our freedom.
How to get involved: This display is a two month temporary display. The museum will not be keeping these items, but displaying these pieces for others to enjoy. We are looking for any memorabilia besides explosives and firearms from the community. You will receive your pieces back at the end of December. We would also like a description or writeup about what the piece is all about. This is a great way for people to remember the true hero’s of our country and what they did for us to give us the freedom we have today.
Where did this idea come from? My grandmother had sold her house and my grandfather who passed away years ago had many collectables from World War II. There were maps of the journey they took along with notes of the soldiers who lost their lives at each location. Pictures, uniforms and so much more has been stored in boxes in the closet and soon the stories become forgotten. If you are interested in displaying your Veterans war memorabilia please contact Jeremy at jeremy@sfmvm.com with the following information below.
Your Name:
Contact Email:
Contact Phone Number:
Vets Name:
Items for Display:
War Served:
Available Dates for your Sioux Falls Wedding Reception at the Museum of Visual Materials
The Museum of Visual Materials is a hot spot for year round weddings. Its unique structure and character gives it an edge and provides something different for couples and guests. Being such a popular venue many calls come in for availability. Well we have tried to make things easier for couples on the hunt for availability on their reception hall. The museum has created an online calendar which is also connected to our activities and classes page. This calendar allows guests to view the arts and crafts days, field trips, large activities, and of course the small planned events as well. The calendar now indicates the dates for wedding couples that are already taken and not available for rent. If the date is taken already, the date will have a Private Event Tag placed on it. This indicates that the date is already spoken for.
the calendar will help couples in their search for the perfect facility for their event. It will also notify the public of when the museum will not be setup but will be setup as a private event. This will help from having guests showing up expecting a museum setup from being disappointed. If you have further questions regarding the buildings availability you can contact the Museum of Visual Materials by email or call Jeremy at 605-271-9500.
Unique wedding reception hall in Sioux Falls, South Dakota
Wedding couples are always looking for unique venues to have their wedding receptions in Sioux Falls. There are some fun options but also limited availability. Some ideas for something different would be an outdoor wedding reception under a tent. Just make sure you have a place to put it and you have ample parking. Other unique places would be the Downtown Holiday Inn Starlight Room. Not because the room is unique but because the view is amazing and there is none like it in Sioux Falls. Another option would be the Washington Pavilion in Sioux Falls. The Great Hall creates a stunning surrounding on the Main stage of the Pavilion. Last but not least, The Museum of Visual Materials which provides the most unique setting in the area. With the quartzite stone walls and the rustic beams and original wood floors, there isn’t anything that comes close to the environment that the museum creates.
There are plenty of facilities in the area for your wedding reception but there is only one like this. Most couple are looking for something unique and not your cookie cutter, boxed venue. There are many things to keep in consideration with your venue and the main thing is, does it fit your style and taste. If you don’t find your event to be unique or if you are just looking for a place to hold a lot of people then your options are endless. If you want to be unique and different and want your guests to truly remember your reception and its uniqueness then keep the Museum of Visual Materials in mind for your event.
Sioux Falls Museum and Summer Time Activities
The Museum of Visual Materials is open year round to the public at no costs. The museum is also a non-profit, non city building that is privately owned. Not only is it privately owned, but yes it is privately funded. The museum is a learning opportunity for all guests of all ages. The Museum provides a hands on learning experience with thousands of books on display, an interactive music room with KSOO archived vinyl records. There are art classes and activities for kids and also for adults. Maybe it is a cooking class that you would like to try. There are many great opportunities and most of the classes are minimal costs.
How do we keep the costs down but still keep our doors open? The museum host private events such as corporate events, private parties, and of course weddings. Make sure you check the schedule of upcoming event so you can see when the museum will be set up for a wedding or event. Without the private events that the museum hosts, we wouldn’t be able to provide the services and opportunities that we do for the community. The Sioux Falls Museum works hard to make sure that we provide a clean and safe environment for all guests. The Museum of Visual Materials strives for the best service and environment which has landed us as one of the Sioux Falls Local Best Reception Venues. 
The work that our staff members put into each event, each learning opportunity, and each class allows us to provide the summer fun that families can enjoy. Take the green tour or use our arts and crafts area. Again, this is a learn experience for all ages. So please enjoy!
Tatting Classes Available… What is Tatting?
Tatting or also known to the French as Frivolite, is an art of needle work. Using a tatting shuttle and thread, a good needlewoman would create masterpieces with time and technique. About 125 years ago the Victorians first revived the art and considerably improved the process of tatting. The Great Mrs. Beeton, who died in her twenties, after having produced her monumental treatise of Household Management when scarcely more than a girl planned a comprehensive book on needlework. In it she considered the subject of tatting so important that she devoted the first section to it. This book completed by other experts, was published after her death.(Coats & Clark’s Copyright 1974).
So what is tatting? Tatting is the creation or making of lace type products. Almost like a style of crochet work tatting has become a lost art. Almost everything is done by machines now and the appreciation for these lost arts are finally making a comeback. Tatting classes are held at the Museum of Visual Materials every Tuesday at 10:00 AM and if free to the public.
Tatting is a simple enough process and with practice, proficiency comes quite soon even to the not-so-nimble fingered. Considering the elaborate effect obtained, it is a decidedly gratifying pastime.
If you would like more information on the Tatting Classes held at the museum please contact Jessica@sfmvm.com
What is a Solar Panel?
Most people think that the panels that are placed on top of buildings that use the sun to create energy are called solar panels which is correct in most situations. Solar Panel is actually the street name, but the actual name is Photovoltaic Panels if they are creating electricity. Photo means light and Voltaic means electricity. These panels consist of silicon and other particles. When the light hits the panel, it sends a charge to the energy source. Most of the time the energy is stored and used when the demand is there. The Museum of Visual Materials’ system actually off-sets the usage of power needed for the facility.This allows us to cut back on the amount of electricity needed from the electric company.
By using solar energy it helps us sustain our facility and helps cut back on emissions created when electricity is made. By being more green, we are saving the green in our pockets and the green environment around us.
Solar panels are typically the name used because not all panels create electricity. Some panels are used for creating hot water. As you can imagine the heat from the panels create the water running through them to heat up. 
Solar energy is not currently the most cost efficient source of energy due to its rate of return on investment. It still has allowed the museum to cut back on about 13 percent of its energy needed in the facility. By providing solar energy, this technology has helped the museum reach its LEED Platinum Certification in the state of South Dakota making us the first platinum building in the state.
Past, Present, and Future of the Museum of Visual Materials in Sioux Falls
In 2007 the Museum of Visual Materials opened its doors to the public. During the reconstruction process of the building Dr. Rose Faithe had a vision of sustainability and the environment. At the dedication Rose said, “The Museum of Visual Materials was founded for the purpose of remembering the past, living in the present and imagining the future.” This purpose has lived on in many ways. 
The past is being remembered through the amazing history of the building and all of the collections left behind. These collections have some interesting stories not only from the founder, but from visitors who come in. Visitors find memorabilia that they grew up with or they remember when they were a child. Books they use to read and records they use to listen to bring back childhood memories.
The present is a time to learn about the past and the future. Without the past and future, learning and understanding wouldn’t be as valuable. Learning using the five senses was a goal that Faithe wanted to entice people with. The classes and workshops created such as our cooking classes and art classes allow people learn using those 5 senses. The building is open to the public free of charge.
The future of the museum is where our sustainability and green practices really shine. The museum is the first LEED Platinum building in the state of South Dakota. The preservation of the building has allowed it to live on well into the future. The green details allow us to help the environment and create a greener community. We are always trying to reach out to the community and visitors to show how easy it really is to be green.
Museum of Visual Materials Wedding Reception Pictures
With so many weddings happening in Sioux Falls, people are always looking for something unique and different for their event. We have so many couples asking about the room and if we have any pictures. We are finally creating a post with various pictures to show the opportunities from past events. Some of these pictures are from years ago and some are recent weddings at the Museum of Visual Materials. As you can see, everyone’s tastes are different and unique and that is the nice thing about our facility is we can match so many different style. With a building with so much character it will help simplify the setup and decorating process for you Sioux Falls Wedding Reception!
Making the right venue choice for your Sioux Falls event
There are many things to keep in mind when you are looking for a venue for your next Sioux Falls event. So many people look at costs as the biggest decision maker. Yes budget is important but is it really what you want to depict your event as? If someone asks you, “Why did you choose this venue for your wedding or your corporate event?” Do you really want the answer to be “It was cheap!”
Make sure your venue matches the theme of your event and the overall feel of the venue is comfortable ambiance wise and capacity wise. One of the biggest tips is always make sure that your guest count stays under the capacity. Imagine an airplane that seats 200 guests. Would you book that plane knowing that your guest count may go over the limit and some people will be completely uncomfortable for the next 4 hours. Stick with your numbers or what I tell people if they are getting close in numbers, start unliking people on Facebook.
The over all ambiance of the room should be comfortable. The theme that you create for your event will help with that and create the mood you are looking for. Don’t have conflicting themes for your event. Make sure everything has a purpose and a visual flow for the best results.
When it comes to your venue, look at all the options. What are the do’s and what are the don’ts. How are the restrictions created going to effect the rest of your plans? Some of the biggest things the museum stresses is the Green policies that we create to make sure that all of our weddings and corporate events are as green as possible.
The uniqueness of the museum will provide you the best venue in Sioux Falls. Read our upcoming blog on what things at the museum will make your event stand out.
It is easy being green… for your Sioux Falls wedding!
There currently is a national trend that we hope will continue for generation to generation. The GREEN movement is bigger than ever and more and more people are keeping those things into. Since the Museum of Visual Materials is a LEED Platinum green building in Sioux Falls, South Dakota, we expect our weddings here to be as well. Some of our biggest focuses is the catering companies and our expectations with them. Caterers are to provide normal dishware such as plates, silverware, etc. This has been a tremendous turn around for us when it comes to the landfill. This has allowed us to cut our garbage in half. We also make sure that your wedding doesn’t just look classy but we make sure that plastic or paper table cloths are being used. A nice linen can really make a difference on the way your event looks. 
All of the beverage containers consumed at the museum are recycled by Novak Sanitary of Sioux Falls who provides an amazing recycling program. The house wines we carry are brought in from the state of Washington and not from over seas. This allows us to help our national economy and help cut down on transportation emissions.
Being a LEED building we are required to have parking for green vehicles which have premier parking at the facility. It is also mandatory that all smoking at our facility be done of the premises completely.We encourage couples to stay away from anything that could affect our environment when thinking about their favors and centerpieces.
So it goes to show you that it really is easy being green! These little steps can really make a world of difference.
Getting Ready for your Green Wedding
There are over 2 million weddings held each year. Imagine if every one of those weddings didn’t think about the environment. Since the Museum of Visual Materials in Sioux Falls, South Dakota is a green building, we also make sure the weddings are as green as possible.
Sioux Falls weddings at the Museum of Visual Materials must abide by the museums requirements to make sure are thinking of the environment as much as possible. Many couples have taken their wedding decor in to consideration when working with the museum not just to follow our requirements, but to make sure they are putting their best foot forward when it comes to conservation.
One of our biggest questions we get is regarding our dishes policy. The museum requires couples to work with their caterers to make sure they have normal plate ware and silverware. Not only will this make your event classier then red solo cups and flimsy paper plates but it will help from all of that trash ending up in the landfill after the event. It will also show your guests that you truly care about their presents at your event because you put the extra efforts to show your consideration to them. Our biggest goal for this is to cut back on landfill wastes.
When the Museum of Visual Materials first started doing private events, this policy wasn’t in place and at the end of the night we would end up with over 8 to 10 bags of trash. After putting the mandatory policy into effect in 2007, our outgoing garbage was reduced to 3 bags. Now again, imagine if 2 million weddings took these things into affect. How much can we really make a difference down the road if it starts with one wedding at a time? Follow our blog for other green tips for your Sioux Falls wedding reception.
KSFY does story on Sioux Falls’ museum new collection
It is an exciting day for the Museum of Visual Materials. No, not because it is May Day. Because the day has come where the KSOO archives are now available to the general public to enjoy. It has been very exciting to flip through some of the old vinyl and see some of the old classic artists and songs. The genre’s are so broad and there are records even for children all the way up to grandparents. Thanks to KSFY for doing a nice story on this exciting event for us and for KSOO.
Follow the link to watch the video here.
KSOO Archives have arrived at the Museum of Visual Materials
Imagine being locked up in a basement for over 2 decades and now being released into the public for the first time. A blast from the past is now available for Sioux Falls natives and visitors from all over. The KSOO archives have arrived at the Museum of Visual Materials. KSOO has been broadcasting on the Sioux Falls frequencies for years. In the mid 1980′s technology changed and so did the way that KSOO was broadcasting their music. Using vinyl records was the way every radio station played the hits across the radio for the public. In the mid 1980′s vinyl was history and cassette tapes were all the rage. With the fall of vinyl records there were only a few options, you could either store all the music somewhere, or throw it all away. As you can imagine when new technology arrives, people just throw out the old. The Henkin family who owned the KSOO station kept these pieces of history and is now donating them to the Museum of Visual Materials. With the change in technology always happening things become out of date and no longer useful. Vinyl records are starting to make their way back into mix and people remember some of the old classics such as The Beatles, The Beach Boys, Hank Williams, Journey, etc.
After sorting through some of the records we found some very unique pieces such as an old 45 of “Masters of the Universe” and or “Scooby Doo“, along with records containing sound effects. After reviewing all of the boxes, we are estimating around 7,000 vinyl records which will be available to guests. Every other month the museum change out the era of records giving a new and fresh genre.
Stop down to the Museum of Visual Materials in partake in some of Sioux Falls’ greatest history in music.
Why a Museum of Visual Materials?
I was recently asked, “what is a museum of visual materials?” The museum was created by Dr. Rose Faithe in 2005. Rose had collected and saved years of treasures and collectibles. Technically everything the museum has in it is a type of material. When we went over to the Faithe home to look over the inventory that Rose was going to donate to the museum I couldn’t believe how all of this stuff fit in one house. This wasn’t like the TV show “Hoarders” by any means. Every single thing in that home was inventoried, packaged, and cleaned up. We always said that her heat bill in the winter had to have quadrupled the next year after everything was removed. All of these collectibles which consisted of old lamps, collectible ceramics, paintings or all types, antique bead work, dolls, old tin toys, and
even cases of treasure trolls. Treasure trolls were one of Rose’s favorites and she had all colors, themes(valentine, wedding, Halloween, etc.), and sizes. If you are ever wondering what it would look like to have 300 treasure trolls, spot by some time. The trolls were just on display filling our display shelves and will be on display in the future as well.
Not only displays fill this museum but fabrics and materials are all organized in our basement for guests wanting to come in and create something or to sew. Need a button? No problem, we have or 80,000 of them. So if you ever lose a button, come visit us. They are all organized by color, shank, holes, etc in our basement as well.
Books, books, and more books! We have so many books you might call us a library. The only thing is, you can’t check the books out. Guests come into the museum grab an old book and will look through these lost treasures. There are books on gardening, history, science, geology, religion, and even the old fashioned cook books. Some of our books are valued all the way into the four figures.
Last but not least the music room houses the vinyl collection from the Faithe family. The music room allows guests to search through our 1000 plus records, 8-tracks, or cassette tapes and listen to some of the old classics. The museum is all proud to announce that in the end of April the original KSOO vinyl collection from the 1930′s to the mid 1980′s will have a new home at the Museum of Visual Materials. The station that established music in the city will now be available to the public to enjoy once again. Thank you to the generous donation from the Henkin family Sioux Falls will get to enjoy this amazing history hands on.
The Big Grape Sioux Falls at the Museum of Visual Materials
Photo by AC Ellis
Once again the Big Grape has created hype and seems to be one of the biggest events to happen in Sioux Falls each year. The tickets for this extraordinary event sold out weeks before the date and it is all for a good cause. Missy Keiper from the Avera Foundation is in her second year organizing this event and it just seems to be getting better and better. The Museum of Visual Materials is proud to be a part of this grand event because this event helps out our community and the kids in the Sioux Empire. Avera teams up with Republic National Distributing Company to bring Sioux Falls’ best premier wine tasting.
This event is also supported by many amazing sponsors such as JJ’s Wine and Spirits, Luxury Auto Mall, The Gas Stop, Argus Leader, HenkinSchultz, Backyard Broadcasting, Midcontinent, US Bank, KSFY, Evans, Avera Heart Hospital of South Dakota, Johnson Controls, Maguire Iron, Boyee Greenfield Pashby & Welk, and Lamar Outdoor Advertising.
The Big Grape Reserve is one of the longest running wine tastings in Sioux Falls. The wine selections provide wines anywhere from $10 per bottle up to $250 a bottle. There are over 75 wines to choose so there is bound to be one that will fit your taste. If you have tickets to this premier event, congratulations! We look forward to seeing you at The Big Grape Reserve tonight at the Museum of Visual Materials.
Museum of Visual Materials Website Renovation!
Three months in the making and the Museum of Visual Materials has a lot of great and exciting thing happening and now they are easier and faster to access. The website has a brand new look and is also a little more user friendly. Not only have we added a blog which will provide updates on upcoming events, classes, weddings, and green tips, but the new format allows you to browse faster and easier.The blog will also allow you and others to reply and visit about each topic that we provide. Feel free to interact with us and also let us know what subjects you would like us to touch base on!
You can take the museum tour and also learn about the renovation of this historic 1887 warehouse and how it became South Dakota’s first LEED Platinum building.
Another great feature is our calendar of events and classes which will be updated continuously. Instead of having to access a facebook account to get the information you need, you can get it directly on our site and also learn about the class and if there is an admission fee. The steps to get registered for our upcoming classes are right on the website as well so if for some reason there is a last minute cancellation on a class, we can make you aware of it. We are looking forward to the new changes within our classes and events area.
The Museum of Visual Materials Weddings and Private Events page will provide sample contracts along with pricing sheets. This is how we stay green! You can print off the PDF from the links provided on each page if you prefer a hard copy as well. We are proud to be a part of the Sioux Falls Local Best Reception Halls because of our unique building and the great customer service that we provide.
The contact and business page will allow you to find the Museum of Visual Materials with its updated map section. You can find us that much easier using the interactive map.
Musuem of Visual Materials
Welcome to the Museum of Visual Materials in Sioux Falls, South Dakota. The museum is the first LEED Platinum Green building in the state of South Dakota. We provide the community with leadership in green innovations through tours, classes, and hands on experiences. The Museum of Visual Materials is rare because it isn’t just one of the oldest buildings in the city with the greenest concepts, but it is a museum where tourists can learn with all 5 senses. This hands on museum allows visitors of all ages to explore in our Music Room, The Hall of Americas, Hall of Continents, Our cooking demo kitchen, and even discover how our gardens can be a large part of green innovation.
We encourage visitors from all over the country to visit the Museum of Visual Materials on their next trip to Sioux Falls. Walking distance from Falls Park in the Downtown area, the museum will have many great things for visitors to discover.
Classes and Activities are held frequently for the Sioux Falls community and visitors. Visit our Classes and Activities page to see which classes you can get signed up for. Classes are filling up fast so make sure you RSVP before it is to late.
Photo by Shannon Dyce Photography
The Museum of Visual Materials has been voted as one of the Sioux Falls Local Best for its banquet facility. The unique quartzite walls and rustic feel make it a rarity in the city of Sioux Falls. The museum is a true hot spot and fills up it weekends very fast. If you want a unique wedding or private event in Sioux Falls, contact the Museum of Visual Materials.
