Founded by author 和 Augustana Professor Emeritus of English Dr. Herbert Krause, the center serves as a repository for more than 500 substantive archival collections 和 maintains a library in excess of 37,000 volumes on the American West.
除了, the center holds an extensive art 和 artifact collection 和 sponsors annual events such as the 央行论坛, Dakota Conference 和 Artists of the Plains Art Show 和 Sale.
With more than 75 publications to its credit, the center is a major academic publisher in South Dakota.