The Buechel Memorial Lakota Museum in St. Francis, South Dakota demonstrates the Mission’s enduring respect for the traditions, culture, and history of the Lakota of the Rosebud Reservation. Named after Father Eugene Buechel, S.J., a noted missionary, linguist, and ethnologist who came to St. Francis Mission in 1902, the museum contains many unique artifacts, images, and documents.
The Buechel Memorial Lakota Museum is an important resource for historians, ethnographers, anthropologists, and artists. Today there are over two thousand items in the ethnographic collection as well as an extensive photographic collection that exceeds 42,000 items. Pictures of the exhibits are permitted; however, in order to protect the exhibits, “flash” or other artificial lighting is not permitted.
For more information or to make an appointment, Email us or call us at (605) 747-2745.
In need of a photograph for research or a project? Click below for our Photo Archive permission forms!
Gift Shop:Articles for purchase in the Museum Gift Shop are made locally by the Lakota people. The local vendors, in negotiation with the museum director, receive a fair price for their work. Profits from the gift shop support the work of preserving and displaying Lakota artifacts.
Hours: Museum artifacts can be viewed by the public, groups, and scholars during regular hours between Memorial Day and Labor Day or by special arrangement. From Labor Day through Memorial Day the museum is open by appointment only.
The Buechel Memorial Lakota Museum is now CLOSED for the season, however, appointments are welcome. We will re-open on Memorial Day 2013.
Groups are requested to please make a reservation ahead of time in order to make the visit comfortable and informative.
For more information or to make an appointment, Email us or call us at (605) 747-2745.
St. Francis is accessible from several highways. To the north of the Reservation is Interstate 90. Crossing the reservation are State Highways 44 and 18. To the south of the reservation in Nebraska is Highway 20.
