experience and executive skill, and all of
whom were residents of the State.

Shortly after the 1st day of July, 1903, when the law creating the
commission became operative, Gov. Charles N. Herreid, then acting
governor, appointed as commissioners, S.W. Russell, of Deadwood; L.T.
Boucher, of Eureka, and W.B. Saunders, of Milbank, who constituted the
commission throughout the entire period. S.W. Russell was elected
president; L.T. Boucher, vice-president; W.B. Saunders, treasurer, and
George R. Farmer, secretary.

The commission at its first session determined that the State should be
represented not only by a building or home for its citizens, but
likewise in the Departments of Agriculture, Horticulture, Dairy, Mining,
and Education. To that end application was at once made to the chiefs of
the various departments of the exposition for space in the respective
exhibit buildings. Tentative locations were at once assigned to our
State commission in all these departments, with the exception of that in
the Palace of Education.

Although one of the last of the States to procure ground for the
erection of our State building, the South Dakota Building was one of the
three State buildings ready to open its doors on the opening day of the
exposition.

The State building was located at the top of Art Hill, a little to the
east of the colonnade of States and about 500 feet east of the Art
Palace.

The South Dakota Building in its exterior and style of architecture was
unpretentious. The building was two stories in height, having two
commodious porches on the north and west sides; the outside walls were
covered with cement, finished in natural color. The building being
situated at the top of a small hill and entirely surrounded by large oak
trees presented a most inviting spot to the overheated, weary sightseer.

It was to the interior construction of the building that time, care, and
expense were chiefly devoted. Upon entering the front door the visitor
stood in a hall 12 feet wide by 21 feet in length; to the right was the
writing room and general business office, to the left the parlor, and at
the rear of the building were the ladies' retiring room, reading room,
lavatories, and storage room. The walls and ceilings of all the rooms
described were covered with metallic sheeting with embossed designs,
beautifully tinted in colorings, each room different from the others.
The furnishings of these rooms were simple, yet servic