Wakan Tipi Center Grand Opening

May 30, 2026

This week, Split Rock Studios joins Waḳan Ṭípi Awanyankapi and the City of Saint Paul to celebrate the grand opening of the Wakan Tipi Center, a Native-led cultural and environmental interpretive center.

Designed by 106 Group and fabricated by Split Rock Studios, the exhibits at Wakan Tipi Center highlight the area’s interconnected history, ecology, and cultural significance through a Dakota perspective, recognizing it as both a historic sacred site and a place of connection for the Dakota people today.

Inside, visitors enter a space that celebrates the connections among the Dakota people and their homeland. With contemporary crafts portrayed in cedar boxes and native plant interactives, visitors learn about Dakota culture and art today.

Outside, visitors walk along a trail that leads them around the landscape to several “teaching stones.” Repurposed limestone boulders adorned with art by local Dakota artists serve as places to pause and listen to stories featuring Dakota elders and community members.

We are honored to serve as the exhibit fabricators for this project in our community. You can visit the Wakan Tipi Center from Wednesday through Friday, 10:00 am – 4:00 pm, to learn more about this sacred place and its community programming.

 

Curious about the grand openings of Split Rock Studios’ projects? Visit our News page to learn more!