Girl sits looking at washington monument - history adventures for kids

Self-guided · County in South Dakota

History Adventures for Kids in Union County, SD

Short, active outings built for children, where each stop is a place to find, a story to hear and a badge to earn.

Ask anyone in Union County, SD for something to do this weekend that costs nothing and the answer is usually a park. Union County is one of 66 counties in South Dakota. The better answer is the history sitting a few miles from the house.

Children looking at an exhibit in a museum - history adventures for kids — Photo: Fenghua on Unsplash

A child in a purple vest looking over a stone wall at a valley - history adventures for kids — Photo: Michele Biase on Unsplash

Young girl hikes on a rocky forest path - history adventures for kids — Photo: Aurel Tyson on Unsplash

On the record near Union County, SD

The 12 nearest

102 listed historic sites on the record within 30 miles of Union County, SD. 14 listed sites carry Union County as their county.

Murtha, Charles, House and Brick Yard4.8 miles from the center of Union County · Building · Elk Point · listed 1982National Register of Historic Places
St. Peter's Catholic Church7.1 miles from the center of Union County · District · Jerrerson · listed 1989National Register of Historic Places
South Dakota Dept. of Transportation Bridge No. 64-061-1997.7 miles from the center of Union County · Structure · Elk Point · listed 1993National Register of Historic Places
Akron Opera House9.1 miles from the center of Union County · Building · Akron · listed 2012National Register of Historic Places
Junction City Rest Stop Tipi9.5 miles from the center of Union County · Object · Junction City · listed 2015National Register of Historic Places
Baker House9.8 miles from the center of Union County · Building · Alcester · listed 1979National Register of Historic Places
Cook Blacksmith Shop11 miles from the center of Union County · Building · Ponca · listed 1974National Register of Historic Places
Dixon County Courthouse11 miles from the center of Union County · Building · Ponca · listed 1990National Register of Historic Places
Burbank School No. 1012 miles from the center of Union County · Building · Burbank · listed 1996National Register of Historic Places
United Brethren Church13 miles from the center of Union County · Building · West Akron · listed 2001National Register of Historic Places
Great Northern Railway Steam Locomotive No. 1355 and Tender 145114 miles from the center of Union County · Structure · Sioux City · listed 2004National Register of Historic Places
SERGEANT FLOYD15 miles from the center of Union County · Structure · Sioux City · listed 1989National Register of Historic Places

Distances are straight-line from the center of Union County, SD. Many sites are private property or working buildings - view them from the public way. See them on the map.

Kids History Adventures in Union County, step by step

1
Set the area and the list of markers to find
2
Split into teams or go solo, with the map open
3
Find each marker and answer one question from its story
4
Photograph the marker to prove the find
5
Count the badges and pick a harder hunt for next time

What people in Union County, SD ask first

How much does it cost to visit these sites in Union County, SD?

Most listed sites can be seen from a public road or sidewalk at no cost, and the app is free to use. Some sites are private homes, working churches or museums with their own hours and fees. The record for each one says what it is, so you know before you go.

Where does the information on these sites come from?

From published records: the National Register of Historic Places, the Recorded Texas Historic Landmark program, and the Georgia Historical Society and Georgia Department of Natural Resources marker program. Every site on the page names its source.

How close does a site have to be to show up here?

The list is sorted by straight-line distance from the center of Union County, SD and covers sites out to about sixty miles. Most people find several within a short drive, and in older towns a few within walking distance.

Can I visit the sites that are private homes?

You can see them from the street, which is how most listed houses are meant to be enjoyed. Please do not walk onto the property or knock unless the site is open to visitors.

How a visit works in Union County

Step 1
Find the place
Every stop starts as a pin with real coordinates. In Union County, SD the map shows what is listed around you and how far each one is, so the first decision is where to go, and it takes a few seconds.
Step 2
Read the story
The record behind each marker is kept whole: what happened there, when, who was involved, and why it was worth a sign. You read it standing where it happened, which is the part a textbook cannot give you.
Step 3
Get there under your own power
Walk it, run it, hike it, ride it or drive it. Stops in Union County, SD are chained into routes that fit the way you move, so a lunch break, a long run or a Saturday drive can all pass through history.
Step 4
Collect it and come back
Each stop you reach counts toward a badge, and a photo or a correction you send makes the record better for the next person. The map remembers where you have been, so the next trip starts where the last one ended.