Mission Statement :
History provides tools for defining our diverse cultural identities and understanding our past. The Office of History/South Dakota State Historical Society shall promote, nurture and sustain the historical and cultural heritage of South Dakota by collecting, preserving, researching, and interpreting evidence of the state's irreplaceable past and making it available for the life-long education and enrichment of present and future generations.

Museum Mission :
The mission of the Museum of the South Dakota State Historical Society is to promote an understanding and appreciation of South Dakota’s rich heritage and complex history through collections, exhibits, programs and events that engage and inspire people to explore history’s impact.