siouxfalls.org: Sioux Falls Trivia

Sioux Falls History Trivia

When was Mark Twain Elementary School built?
What was the “Dubuque House”?
When was the first public “reading room” or library developed in Sioux Falls?
Who was the first Bishop of the Episcopal Diocese of Southern Dakota?
When was the original part of the State Penitentiary built and who provided the stone for the wall?
What was the Keeley Institute?
Who was the architect that designed the Minnehaha County Courthouse?
When was the first telephone system installed in Sioux Falls?
In March 1883, the legislature in Yankton passed an act granting a City Charter to Sioux Falls. The first election under the new City Charter was when?
What was the first “suburb” to the village of Sioux Falls and who developed it?
The first plat of Sioux Falls filed at the office of Register of Deeds was on August 9, 1871, by Josiah L. Phillips. What was the name of the addition?
What was the first bridge built over the Big Sioux River?
What were the two land companies that settled by the Falls in 1856 and 1857?
What were the other towns in Minnehaha County that Dakota Land Company of St. Paul started?
Who was the first white child born in Minnehaha County?
What was the first railroad line to enter Minnehaha County?
What was the name of the first newspaper published in Minnehaha County?
Who built the first Cataract Hotel in 1871?
Who was the first Fire Chief?
When was the first public “reading room” or library developed in Sioux Falls?
Where was the first post office located?
What was the name of the first bank chartered in Sioux Falls in September 1885?
Where was the Drake Polishing Works (founder H. J. Drake of St. Paul) located?
Where was the first electrical plant located?
Where was the first cemetery located?
The South Dakota School for the Deaf and Mute was constructed during the 1880s. Who designed the buildings and who supplied the land?
The original building of “Sioux Falls University” was called what and when was it built?
Where was the Merchants Hotel and when was it built?
The first federal census of Sioux Falls was made in 1880. What was the population of Sioux Falls in 1880?
The first sutler (merchant) at Fort Dakota was A. F. Hayward who sold his business to C. K. Howard. What was Mr. Howard the “first” of in Sioux Falls?
Where did the first airplane land in Sioux Falls?
Where is Van Eps Park?
Where was the first “fairgrounds,” racetrack, and grandstand located at?
Where was the first airport in Minnehaha County?
Where was the first Minnehaha Country Club?
Where was the first swimming pool located in Sioux Falls?
Who gave money to the Presentation Sisters in 1911 to build a hospital?
Whose house was located within Terrace Park and when was it demolished?
Where was the first post office located?
What was the name of the first bank chartered in Sioux Falls in September 1885?
In what years did the City demolish the buildings on the west side of Phillips Avenue between Ninth and Tenth Street for redevelopment into another bank building and parking space?
In what years did the City demolish the buildings on the west side of Phillips Avenue between Ninth and Tenth Street for redevelopment into another bank building and parking space?
When was the Great Plains Zoo started on Kiwanis Avenue? Whose collection of stuffed animals was acquired by C. J. Delbridge for the exhibit later constructed at the zoo?
When was the interchange of I-29 and I-90 completed?
When was the new Minnehaha County Courthouse constructed? What was the proposed use by some for the old courthouse?
When was the original EROS complex constructed northeast of Sioux Falls? What is its purpose?
When was the USS Battleship South Dakota Memorial at Sherman Park erected?
When was the Washington High School band organized?
When was the Washington High School band organized?
When was the YMCA building constructed?
When were the Japanese Gardens first constructed adjacent to Covell Lake?
When were the Sioux Falls Canaries baseball team organized?
When was Mark Twain Elementary School built?
When was Packer Baseball Stadium built?
When was Sanford (formerly Sioux Valley) Hospital built?
When was the “Hills of Rest Memorial Park Cemetery” established?
When was the Arena built?
When was the bike/pedestrian trails started in Sioux Falls? When was it completed north to Falls Park?
When was the City of Sioux Falls’ Light Plant started?
When was the City-County Public Safety Building erected north of Minnehaha County Courthouse?
When was the current City Hall constructed at Ninth Street and Dakota Avenue?
When was the first public airport constructed?
What year did clearance occur of old buildings between Dakota Avenue and Main Avenue north of Eighth Street?
What year did Sioux Falls first have a television station? Who was the star of their most long-running program?
What year did the clearance of the block between Eighth and Ninth Street and Main Avenue and Phillips Avenue begin? What city landmark was demolished?
What year did the pedestrian mall on Phillips Avenue develop? What year was it demolished and traffic reintroduced?
What year did the suspected “Dillinger” gang rob the Security Bank?
When did a fire gut the Queen Bee Mill?
When did Shrivers leave the downtown area? Where did they go? When did they finally close?
When did the School District create “junior high schools” and when were they built?
When was Central Fire Station at Ninth Street and Minnesota Avenue constructed?
When was Howard Wood Field constructed near Russell Street and where had it first been located?
All Saints School between 18th and 17th Streets was constructed when and for what special use?
In 1900, what national political convention was held in Sioux Falls?
Who is called the Father of the Sioux Falls Park System?
What gift did the citizens receive from Andrew Carnegie?
Who was the Mayor that promoted the construction of the Sioux Falls Coliseum at Fifth Street and Main Avenue?
What was the first store in Sioux Falls to have air-conditioning?
What was the Sioux Falls Traction System?
What was the Sioux Falls Traction System?
What was the first fast-food restaurant in Sioux Falls to serve french fries? Where was it located?
What was the first radio station in Sioux Falls?
What were the effects of the blast from the powderhouse?
What major criminal event happened December 31, 1936?
What other statue was given to Sioux Falls and where is it located?
What railroad had the last passenger service into Sioux Falls and when did they discontinue service?
What was the “Palace of Sweets” and where was it located?
What was the “Radio Technical Training School?”
What was the Columbus College?
What was the first building in 1965 to be razed downtown, and what building replaced it and where was it located?
What was the first City swimming pool?
Washington High School operated two shifts to accommodate more than 3,000 students the year before Lincoln High was built. What year was Lincoln High built? What year was O’Gorman built?
What building was incorporated within the new Hawthorne Grade School built in 1985?
What caused Sioux Falls to become popular with people seeking a divorce?
What cultural organization was developed in 1960?
What cultural organization was developed in 1961?
What was the “mud lark” and what was it used for?
What entertainment facility was installed in Sherman Park in 1921?
What facilitated the growth of Sioux Falls College and Augustana College after the depression years?
What facility did Northern States Power build in 1966 and where was it located?
What is the City’s smallest park?
On May 5, 1865, a military post and reservation was established by the War Department after the fourth session of the Territorial Legislature. What was it called?
In the early years, private owners and businesses all discharged sewage into the Big Sioux River. What year did that change?
In the late 1930s, where was the first Baptist Church located?
Morrell’s constructed pre-treatment sewage facilities and participated in the City’s cost of sewage treatment. What other organization constructed their own treatment facility?
The City Police Department still used motorcycles for patrol into the late 40s. When did they first acquire cars?
The Edminson-Jamison building at Ninth Street and Phillips Avenue had the top four floors removed for safety reasons and was eventually demolished. Who was the tenant before demolition?
Thomas Fawick gave the citizens a replica of Michelangelo’s David statue in what year and when was it dedicated at the Fawick Park?
Using HUD funds, the City started its urban renewal program in 1968 and focused on what need first?
In 1966 the federal government started clearing a block of buildings for what use and where?
In early years, there were no zoning regulations? When did that change?
In 1887, Sioux Falls City Street Railway Company used horse-drawn and electric cars throughout the city. Who were its founders and where was the “car barn” located?
In 1890, a large packing plant was constructed south of Skunk Creek near Louise Avenue. Who were the promoters?
When was the Cherry Rock Bridge built?
When was the first bridge constructed for Sixth Street over the Big Sioux River?
When were streetlights installed in Sioux Falls?
In 1975 with tax incentives for historic preservation, what historic buildings in the downtown area were renovated?
Following WWII, what happened to the airport and the Radio Training School?
From whom and when did the City acquire the land of Terrace Park?
How many personnel were involved in the federal occupation of the municipal airport?
How much did the City of Sioux Falls first Light Plant cost?
When did the Cataract Hotel burn?
When was the volunteer fire department of Sioux Falls turned into full-time City employees?
Who was the first Fire Chief and how much was his salary?
The city of South Sioux Falls was incorporated in February 1890. Who was largely responsible?
What businesses established themselves in South Sioux Falls?
What was the speed limit in Sioux Falls according to Ordinance No. 326 passed March 2, 1903?
In the early years of Sioux Falls, wood sidewalks were used. What year was this changed to concrete or brick?
Early downtown Sioux Falls streets were covered with gravel or cinders. When did the first paved street appear?
When was the first East Tenth Street viaduct constructed?
When was the old Tenth Street viaduct replaced with a steel and concrete structure?
In August of 1862, a messenger brought news of a Minnesota massacre (after the Amidon murders) to the citizens of the village of Sioux Falls. What did the residents do?
The original building of “Sioux Falls University” was called what and when was it built?
The original two-story Lincoln School was designed in 1888 by W. A Dow. When was it replaced by the one-story structure on West Ninth Street?
In 1889 the Lutheran Normal School was built on four acres of land given by R. F. Pettigrew. What became of that school?
Where was the Phillips House Hotel located and who was the owner?
When did Sioux Falls develop a municipal water system?
Who encouraged the development of the post office/federal office building at 12th Street and Phillips Avenue?
Using native quartzite stone, when was the post office completed?
What convention was held in the newly constructed “City Auditorium” at Ninth Street and Dakota Avenue?
Who was the first Fire Chief?