Tripp County Historical Society Museum

Open Memorial Day thru Labor Day.
Wed-Sun, 2 p.m. to 5 p.m.

Location
Tripp County Historical Society
E Highway 18
Winner, SD
Phone (605) 842-0704

Mailing Address
Tripp County Historical Society
P.O. Box 287
Winner, South Dakota 57580

History of the Tripp County Historical Society
The Winner Women's Club sponsored, in October 1969, a two-day Historical Fair and Pageant at St. Mary's Hall in Winner. In November of that year a historical society was organized with Lowden Heller of Ideal as president. The purpose of this organization was to establish a museum for care and display of items of historical value. The first year more than 600 people joined the society.
The Tripp County Historical Society was incorporated in 1970. We are a non-profit organization.
In September 1971, a 10-acre tract of land belonging to Allen Stober described as the NW 20-99-76 was purchased as a site for the proposed museum.
Main Museum Building
In 1975 a metal building 50x120 feet was erected to house exhibits. The Horse Shoe Bar used for many years as the counter at Joe's Cafe has been added to the front of the Main Museum building. It was made in 1913 by Charley Anderson, a homesteader from King Township. The back part of the Main Museum building has been turned into an early day Main Street. A lawyer office, bank, newspaper office, hospital, dentist office, drugstore, general store and dress shop are open for viewing. Displays featuring Tripp County communities and families are highlighted throughout the building.
Depot Honors Tripp County's Veterans The Winner Railroad Depot was moved to the Museum site in 1980. It currently houses the Tripp County Veterans Memorial, where over 400 pictures of our brave veterans are on display - pre-World War I to the present.

Other buildings now on the site include:
Lakeview Methodist Church,
Trinity Episcopal Church,
Dorian Meadows Schoolhouse,
Rosehill School
Osa T. and Salome L. Cashatt Homestead House.
Machine Shed
A machine shed was built to preserve the Morganfield steam engines and other antique vehicles.
Reference Books
The Tripp County Historical Society Museum does not offer any online resources at this time. But does have nearly all of the books listed on the "Tripp Co Book Shelf" on this site including the ones listed as not owned. Reference sources are not loaned out, but the books may be used at the museum.
Informational Database
Currently we are working on an informational database. It consists of over 25,000 computer files (70gig) of photos, community and family stories, and a digital newspaper archive back to 1908. The collection is a works in progress and more will become available for public use at the museum all the time.
Tripp County Centennial Books
We are approaching a Centennial year for Tripp County and three new books are scheduled to be published: Colome Centennial book, Tripp County Centennial book, and a book on Tripp County Schools. A fourth book, "Homesteading Northern Tripp County South Dakota" by Beverly Burtz is back from the publisher.

Pictures and information courtesy of the
Tripp County Historical Society Archives

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