Sitting Bull Crystal Cavern Dance Pavilion, Historic dance pavilion in Rockerville, US
The Sitting Bull Crystal Cavern Dance Pavilion is an octagonal performance structure with white vertical wooden boards built on a concrete foundation near the caverns along U.S. Highway 16. The building was designed specifically as a venue for performers and audiences.
The Duhamel family built this pavilion in 1934 as a tourist attraction during the Great Depression. The structure became an important venue for cultural performances in South Dakota.
Native American performers presented traditional Lakota ceremonies here under the guidance of Black Elk, including healing rituals and the Sun Dance. The venue allowed the Lakota community to practice and share their spiritual traditions with visitors.
The site is accessible via U.S. Highway 16 near Rockerville, where visitors can also explore the neighboring Crystal Caverns. It is best to explore the building's exterior and walk around the surrounding grounds.
The pavilion provided a safe space for the Lakota community to perform spiritual ceremonies that were prohibited under United States federal law. This made it a refuge for cultural practices forbidden elsewhere.
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