Sioux Falls South Dakota

A Morning in Sioux Falls: Beauty, History, and a Leap of Faith

We spent the night in Sioux Falls, South Dakota, not knowing quite what to expect come morning. But when we woke up and headed to Falls Park, we were completely taken by surprise — in the best way.

The park is stunning. Right in the heart of the city, it's somehow both easy to find and tucked into nature. As we pulled in, the pink quartzite — Sioux Quartzite, to be exact — immediately caught our eye. This ancient stone, millions of years old, has a soft rose color that lights up in the sun. It lines the falls, the paths, and the foundations of the city itself. Honestly, it's like stepping into a postcard.

In the center of the park stands the Falls Park Observation Tower, a five-story viewing tower with both an elevator and stairs. Naturally, we climb it HaHa! Sike! From the top, we saw the full landscape: the rushing Big Sioux River, the old mill ruins, and the city unfolding in every direction. It’s one of those views that makes you pause.

Below the tower are the haunting remains of the Queen Bee Mill, a massive flour mill from the 1880s that operated for just two years before going bankrupt. A fire decades later left only its brick columns and stone foundations, but even in ruin, it’s magnificent — a reminder of the ambitions and struggles of the city’s past.

After exploring the park, we took a scenic drive through town. Sioux Falls is full of historic brick buildings, many over 100 years old, and they still stand strong. It’s a city that hasn’t forgotten its roots.

One stop that really stood out was the Leap of Faith sculpture — an artistic bridge with a missing section. It's part of the city's SculptureWalk, an outdoor gallery that changes each year. The name “Leap of Faith” is perfect — you can’t help but imagine yourself stepping across the gap, trusting something unseen.

We also visited St. Joseph Cathedral, with its towering twin spires and beautiful stonework. And right nearby is the Old Courthouse Museum, now home to the old town center clock, still ticking proudly over a century later.

Everywhere we turned, Sioux Falls offered a mix of natural beauty, rich history, and unexpected art. We didn’t expect to fall in love with this city — but we absolutely did.

If you're passing through South Dakota, don’t miss a morning (or a whole day) in Sioux Falls. You might just find yourself saying what we did, over and over again:

"It’s beautiful. It’s really, truly beautiful."