Celebrate the end of the snowy season and the beginning of spring at Family Fun Saturday on April 21 from 10-11:30 a.m. CDT at the Cultural Heritage Center in Pierre.

Visitors can create their own “spring shower” by making a rain mobile. All supplies are provided and children should be accompanied by an adult. The program is free, and admission to the museum gallery is also free during the program hours.

“Spring rains are critical if the state is going to have a good growing season for crops,” said Jay Smith, museum director. “This time of year we are all hoping that snow won’t fly anymore and that rain will start greening up the fields, lawns and trees. Our visitors can celebrate spring showers by making their own shower mobile to take home.”

Average annual precipitation in South Dakota ranges from around 15 inches in the northwestern part of the state to about 25 inches in the southeast. The Black Hills gets nearly as much precipitation as the southeast. In contrast, parts of Hawaii can get 460 inches of rain per year. That’s more than 38 feet of rain, compared to South Dakota’s average of about two feet per year.

The museum is open from 9 a.m.-4:30 p.m. CDT Monday through Saturday, and 1-4:30 p.m. on Sundays and most holidays. Call 605-773-3458 for more information about exhibits, special events and upcoming activities.

About the South Dakota State Historical Society
The South Dakota State Historical Society is a division of the Department of Education. 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 www.history.sd.gov for more information. The society also has an archaeology office in Rapid City; call 605-394-1936 for more information.