Pettigrew Home & Museum

Visit the former home of South Dakota's first senator.

In 1889, Thomas and Jenny McMartin had a beautiful Queen Anne-style home built. They sold it about 22 years later to Senator Richard Franklin Pettigrew for $12,000. Years before, in 1869, Pettigrew arrived in Sioux Falls and worked hard to help build the city. He served as Dakota's representative in Congress and was responsible for bringing 5 railroads and many businesses to the community. He was elected as the first full-term senator after South Dakota became a state in 1889.

Pettigrew served for two terms while helping move forward the rights of women, farmers, and the working man. Richard Franklin Pettigrew was a collector and enjoyed traveling the world. He was also an amateur archaeologist. With all of his collections, he decided to build his own museum behind his home. It has been open to the public since 1925. Inside, visitors can see items such as Native American clothing, guns, and items from the settlement of Sioux Falls. When Pettigrew died in 1926, he left everything to the city of Sioux Falls for the continuation of the museum. Both the restored home and museum can be toured today. It appears just as it would have been when Pettigrew lived there. Admission to the property, home, and museum is free of charge. They have curbside parking and handicap parking with a wheelchair entrance on the south side of the museum.