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Fabulous Fish Day & Museum Day Live! at Cultural Heritage Center on Sept. 28

On Saturday, Sept. 28, all visitors are welcome to visit the Cultural Heritage Center in Pierre and attend Fabulous Fish Day free of charge in observance of Museum Day Live!, courtesy of Smithsonian Magazine.

Museum Day Live! is an annual event hosted by Smithsonian Magazine to promote museum attendance. More than 1,400 museums around the nation are participating this year.

On Museum Day Live!, the Museum of the State Historical Society is hosting a special event from 10 a.m.--3 p.m. CDT that focuses on fishing in the state. The day will include a special speaker, hands-on activities and refreshments.

Activities will include making a flour fish print, creating a fly-tie ornament and doing “catch-and-release” with miniature fish models. Dr. Nathan Hitchcock of the Sioux Falls Seminary will present “Waters of Coherence: Fly Fishing Spirituality among Calvinists in Montana and South Dakota” at 1:30 p.m. Dr. Hitchcock uses fishing as a topic to delve into wider issues about history, culture and society in a humorous and accessible way. Seating for his talk will be limited to 50.

“Fishing is a part of the cultural fabric of South Dakota,” said Jay Smith, museum director. “People relate to being out on the river catching the big one or telling the grandkids about the one that got away. We’ve put together a day of fun activities and a thoughtful speaker who uses fishing to talk about broader topics. It’s a day with something for everyone. Free tickets courtesy of the Smithsonian are an added bonus.”

To obtain free museum tickets, visit http://www.smithsonianmag.com/museumday/ticket/. Visitors will need to fill out the form and print tickets ahead of time. The free tickets are valid only on Sept. 28.

The museum became an affiliate of the Smithsonian Institution in January and is the only one in the state.

About Smithsonian Affiliations
Established in 1996, Smithsonian Affiliations is a national outreach program that develops collaborative partnerships with museums and educational and cultural organizations to share Smithsonian Institution resources with Americans in their own communities. Smithsonian Affiliations works with affiliates to enrich communities with Smithsonian scholars, public programs and professional development opportunities. More information about the Smithsonian Affiliations program and a list of current affiliates are available at https://affiliations.si.edu.

The South Dakota State Historical Society is a division of the Department of Tourism. The Department of Tourism is comprised of Tourism, the South Dakota Arts Council, and the State Historical Society. The Department is led by Secretary James D. Hagen. The State Historical Society, an Affiliate of the Smithsonian Institution, is headquartered at the South Dakota Cultural Heritage Center in Pierre. The center houses the society’s world-class museum, the archives, and the historic preservation, publishing and administrative/development offices. Call (605) 773-3458 or visit history.sd.gov for more information. The society also has an archaeology office in Rapid City; call (605) 394-1936 for more information.