MITCHELL, S.D. (AP) - The Mitchell Prehistoric Indian Village museum in southeastern South Dakota has been invited to become a Smithsonian Affiliate.
The Daily Republic (https://bit.ly/2oyjn73 ) reported while nothing has been finalized, the museum’s executive director Cindy Gregg said approval could happen by the end of May.
The Smithsonian Affiliation website said it’s “a national outreach program that develops long-term, high quality partnerships with museums, educational, and cultural organizations to enrich communities with Smithsonian resources.”
Benefits of becoming an affiliate include special traveling exhibits, Smithsonian artifact loans and public lectures by Smithsonian scholars. Museum members will automatically become members of the Smithsonian and be eligible for discounts in Smithsonian gift shops.
However, the program is not free and costs $3,000 annually to be a member. Gregg has approached the Davison County Commission for an annual donation to cover the cost of joining the program.
In recent years the museum gained recognition for finding an unbroken pot, archival botanicals and a partial juvenile bison skeleton in recent years. It’s most popular attraction is the Corn Palace.
The museum hopes to use the increased opportunities and advertising benefit that comes with being an affiliate to improve its status as a regional attraction.
There are more than 200 Smithsonian Affiliate. If approved, Indian Village would become the third affiliate in South Dakota.
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Information from: The Daily Republic, https://www.mitchellrepublic.com
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