July 1, 2020
RE-OPENING
Friday, July 3
Saturday, July 4
9:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.
Please read our health and safety guidelines before visiting. CLICK HERE
Sign up for emails and access exclusive learning content at the bottom of this page.
June 15, 2020
SAFETY FIRST
The Journey Museum and Learning Center remains temporarily closed. We're taking a "safety first" approach, monitoring COVID-19 cases in the community, reviewing best practices for re-opening, and establishing the proper health and safety protocols for both visitors and staff.
We're looking at a new schedule through September. To be determined is an open schedule of 3 to 4 days a week to host our Members and Guests. Please tell us when you would appreciate being able to visit with a 1-minute survey.
We will notify guests a week in advance of our re-opening date, and we look forward to being your host in the near future!! The Journey Continues.
May 6, 2020
REMAINING TEMPORARILY CLOSED
The Journey Museum and Learning Center remains temporarily closed. As of today, this status remains unchanged. We will provide a notification of our intended re-opening date a minimum of 1 week in advance to our actual re-opening.
We appreciate your inquiry and look forward to hosting you. We are currently reviewing the proper facility management protocols and creating appropriate experiences that ensure the health and safety of both visitors and staff.
To stay current on all of our activities and announcements, please sign up to receive our emails. There is a link to subscribe at the bottom of this page. We look forward to being your host in the near future!! The Journey Continues.
April 13, 2020
We get through hardships by banding together! Read below for three ways to serve your community.
The United Way of the Black Hills is rallying the community to donate for much-needed supplies. Check out how much they've raised so far!
You can help by emailing info@unitedwayblackhills.org or clicking here.
To help our friends in the healthcare field, you can sew surgical masks or donate other medical supplies.
Get all the information right here.
Vitalant, your local blood donation center, urgently needs blood donations.
Call 605-646-2625 or visit vitalant.org
April 9, 2020
Practice social distancing with virtual tours of the Black Hills!
The Journey Museum and Learning Center was featured in the 2019 C-SPAN Cities Tour alongside other local greats. Sit back and watch as we celebrate the sights and sounds of the Black Hills!
WATCH NOWExperience striking virtual landscapes from Travel South Dakota!
CLICK HERE
April 3, 2020
LISTEN AND SHARE!
We're bringing the education and entertainment to you! We've just dropped our latest segment of "The Journey Files" podcast. Take a listen and then share your ideas for educational programs with us! Social media links are below, or you can email Executive Director Troy Kilpatrick at tkilpatrick@journeymuseum.org
Dive deep into your local museum to discover art, science, culture and history!
Executive Director Troy Kilpatrick talks with Sarah Carlson about exciting programs coming up for your calendar!
*Please note that the schedule for Turtle Stories varies slightly from the podcast.
View the updated schedule here.
April 2, 2020
WE WANT TO HEAR FROM YOU!
We went live on Facebook today to hear your ideas on community education! It's not too late to share - watch our video on Facebook by clicking here, then either leave a comment or email our Executive Director Troy Kilpatrick at tkilpatrick@journeymuseum.org
April 1, 2020
We're bringing the museum to you!
Our executive director stays 6 feet away on "Good Morning Black Hills" WATCH NOW: bit.ly/3bPUKZf
March 27, 2020
Announcing our latest podcast episode of...
Dive deep into your local museum to discover art, science, culture and history!
Executive Director Troy Kilpatrick sits down with Sarah Carlson to talk about how we're moving forward and serving our community during the COVID-19 crisis.
We want to hear from you!
We're going live on Facebook this Thursday.
Join us on April 2 at 10 a.m. to share your ideas on community education!
March 25, 2020
JUST KEEP LEARNING
We're planning ahead and looking forward to the day we reopen to the public. In the meantime, we're going to just keep learning! We're committed to bringing you educational content every week from our talented team of educators. Watch and share these videos with family and friends so that we can all learn together!
March 22, 2020
TEMPORARILY CLOSED
We are temporarily closed to the public for the health and safety of our staff and guests. We will remain closed for the necessary length of time to address the COVID-19 crisis.
March 18, 2020
MOVING FORWARD
Here at The Journey Museum and Learning Center, we seek to meet and exceed these guidelines for the health and safety of our staff and guests.
Effective now through March, the following changes apply to our Turtle Soups and Learning Forums:
- Presentations will be shown as videos from our presenters
- Presentations will be offered on Fridays at noon, 1 p.m., 2 p.m., 3 p.m., and 4 p.m. in both our theater and gallery
- The programs will be presented without any food
- Audiences will not exceed more than 10 people at one time
Stay tuned to our website, emails and social media for changes as we adjust to constantly changing public policy.
COMING FRIDAY
TURTLE SOUP STORIES
TURTLE SOUP IS INCLUDED WITH ADMISSION AND HALF-OFF FOR MEMBERS. RESERVE YOUR SEAT NOW! CALL 605-394-6923.
A MESSAGE ON BEHALF OF YOUR LOCAL BLOOD DONATION CENTER
Vitalant, the blood donation center at 2209 West Omaha St. in Rapid City, urgently needs blood donations.
Due to the coronavirus outbreak, numerous blood drives have been canceled. We need your help making up for these losses to ensure blood remains on shelves for those in need. All blood types are requested, and we encourage healthy people to come out and donate immediately. Bring a buddy with you if you can!
We are open 7 days a week, and walk-ins are welcome. Donors can also make appointments at www.vitalant.org, or by calling our front desk at 605-646-2625.
Thank you for your support in this critical time of need! Please spread the word to your family, friends, and acquaintances. Together, we can make it through this pandemic. #wearevital
POSTPONED
Please watch for updates on a new date
POSTPONED
The Minnilusa Historical Association will be postponing the Annual Meeting scheduled for noon on Sunday, March 29 at The Journey Museum and Learning Center.
The meeting, potluck dinner and presentation on the McGillycuddy house by Jean Kessloff will be rescheduled for later in the year. Look out for future communications for a new date from both The Journey Museum and Learning Center and the Minnilusa Historical Association.
March 17, 2020
NEW PROGRAM STANDARDS
As matters evolve with COVID-19, we'd like to thank you for supporting your local museum and update you with the latest standards.
Along with our intensified cleaning protocols, we'll be guiding visitors in social distancing. So what does that mean?
Social distancing is a simple safety measure, where large groups are turned smaller, ensuring everyone has adequate personal space.
For your Turtle Soups and Learning Forums, we're instituting a maximum number of guests. This self-imposed cap of 45 people per program is in line with the latest CDC guidelines.
At Turtle Soup (Fridays at noon), there will be four chairs to a table. We've spaced our tables and chairs out and are instructing guests to spread out enough to feel comfortable. 
At Learning Forums (Sundays at 2 p.m.), we encourage a zig zag pattern, where guests will spread out along rows and sides of the theater, leaving a few seats in between them.
Now, more than ever, we appreciate your advance reservations for programs so that we may make the proper seating arrangements. Please call 605-394-6923 to reserve.
For our daily education, like Toddler Tuesdays, Discovery Expeditions and Lakota Culture, we're implementing caps of 20 people per group. We are providing enough staff members and leadership to handle multiple groups.
As we stated yesterday, we are committed to remaining open and providing a sense of normalcy.
These new standards are in compliance with the CDC as of March 17, 2020. These guidelines could be amended, and we'll stay current for the health and safety of our staff and guests.
Watch for updates through email, our website, and on social media.
March 16, 2020
A MESSAGE FROM EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR TROY KILPATRICK ON COVID-19
I'd like to thank everyone who continues to support our mission to educate and inspire the public. Below is The Journey's position on matters developing with COVID-19.
We are committed to remaining open and providing a sense of normalcy for those who still want to visit us or attend programs. This would only change if government policy mandates our closure to the public.
This means that our movies and programs like Toddler Tuesdays, Discovery Expeditions, Journey Into Space, and Lakota Culture will continue to be offered.
Learning Forums and Turtle Soups will be offered if presenters are comfortable being in a public setting. We'll update programming through email, our website and on social media.
Our internal cleaning protocols are now intensified. We have temporarily closed off certain areas of the museum and have removed some interactive educational items. When the time comes, those items and areas will again be thoroughly cleaned and opened to the public.
Other areas of significant note:
We are continuously cleaning and wiping down high touchpoint areas like door handles. We are surface-cleaning counters and exhibits. Our restroom cleaning is addressed after each and every visit. We will continue to monitor the latest CDC standards and regulations.
