Falls of the Big Sioux River
For the residents of Sioux Falls the falls have always held an attraction, at first it was the power of the river that brought pioneers to this region. Many commercial uses were found in those early years. The falls also became a destination for recreation and provided a tranquil setting in all the seasons for the visitor. Today it has become a park which attracts tourists from all over the country.
Scanned from 19th Century Sioux Falls Through the Lens: Photographs of Leroy T. Butterfield.
Two women enjoying the falls in the winter. In the background is the Queen Bee Mill a commercial venture opened in 1881 only to close in 1883 do to the lack of affordable wheat.