FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:  Oct. 31, 2008
CONTACT:  Patricia Miller, (605) 773-6001, patricia.miller@state.sd.us

Gingerbread House creators sought

PIERRE, S.D. – Miniature replicas of historic buildings in Pierre have been a popular attraction over the holidays displayed in the lobby of the South Dakota Cultural Heritage Center the past two years.

This year, the Pierre Historic Preservation Commission, organizers of the “Gingerbread Houses,” as the models are popularly called, has plans for seven replicas to be constructed.

But creators of four of the replicas are still being sought, according to Patricia Miller, president of the South Dakota Heritage Fund.

The South Dakota State Historical Society and its nonprofit financial partner, the Heritage Fund, host the Gingerbread Houses.

“The Gingerbread Houses have brought lots of people to the Cultural Heritage Center the past two years,” Miller said. “We look forward to having them again.”

Miller said any creative bakers or crafters interested in creating one of the historic replicas can contact her at (605) 773-6001. The PHPC will provide building guidelines, she said.

The miniature buildings will be on display from the week before Thanksgiving though early January.

The annual holiday open house of the State Historical Society is Friday, Nov. 28, from noon to 4:30 p.m. at the Cultural Heritage Center. Authors David Volk and Mark Meierhenry (The Mystery of the Tree Rings) and Marshall Damgaard (The South Dakota State Capitol: The First Century) have been invited to read from and sign their books. There is free admission to the museum that day, refreshments, living history demonstrations, special buys in the Heritage Store and free pictures with Santa Claus.