SDHC 2026 One Book Author Tour Was a Success
SDHC’s 2026 One Book Author Tour – including stops in seven communities across South Dakota – was completed just days before the 250th birthday celebration of the United States. Spanning the timespan of six days, the tour highlighted this year’s One Book selection – A Biography of a Mountain: The Making and Meaning of Mount Rushmore by Matthew Davis – with the author himself discussing the books with hundreds of participants in attendance.
The whirlwind tour began with a catered lunch discussion at the Mead Museum in Yankton on Thursday, June 25th. Later that evening, Matthew Davis spoke with attendees at a community celebration event held at Mosaic Art and Events Center in Sioux Falls. He was accompanied at this event by cultural performances and presentations by Shaina Yellowback and additional representatives from Wićozani Wastè, a nonprofit organization based in Sioux Falls focusing on traditional Native American culture and wellbeing, while Sanaa’s Mediterranean Gourmet provided catering for the event.
Friday, June 26th, included a presentation and discussion by the author at the Cheyenne River Sioux Tribe’s Lakota Cultural Center in Eagle Butte, as well as a Lakota Artists Market. The following evening – on Saturday, June 27th – Matthew Davis spoke to a crowd at the Capitol Lake Visitors Center in Pierre, with appetizers provided by TKOs.
On Monday, June 28th, the tour continued with two stops – the first being a community discussion in Custer at the Custer Senior Center, and later that evening at the Dahl Arts Center in Rapid City, where the author was joined by South Dakota Artist Laureate, Marty Two Bulls, in discussing Lakota art and culture, and catering was provided by Oyul Fusion, whose fare incorporates the cultures and food of two very distinct cultures, Laotian and Lakota.
The final stop on the tour was held on Tuesday, June 29th, at Oglala Lakota College in Kyle, where Matthew Davis spoke with attendees about his book and the importance of its subject matter to the Native American community and beyond. Attendees were treated to a lunch of Indian tacos provided by Emily Bull Bear.
At each stop along the tour, attendees were provided with a complimentary copy of the 2026 One Book, provided by SDHC, with the opportunity to have the author sign their individual copies.
SDHC – and Matthew Davis – would like to thank all who attended the 2026 One Book Author Tour events and express our deepest gratitude to the venues, to those that contributed cultural performances and presentations, and to those that provided the wonderful variety of food along the tour. If you were unable to attend the tour events, SDHC will be welcoming Matthew Davis back to South Dakota for the 24th annual South Dakota Festival of Books later this year. Details for the Festival will be announced in the coming days, and we look forward to seeing you there!