Additional information
| Gift Amount | $25, $50, $100, $150, $200, $300, $500, $1,000 |
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Art on the Prairie
Events
July 19 | Open House | Cristen Joy Photography 10th Anniversary Celebration
11:00 am – 4:00 pm CT
Join us for the reveal of new photographs featuring trees in the collection Countenance, during the 6th annual Open House at Grandview Gallery.
We welcome you to gaze upon the landscape that fuels inspiration, enjoy home-raised beef appetizers, and experience art on the prairie.
The dream of transforming this schoolhouse into a gallery/art space is becoming a reality as we continue to raise funds towards Phase III – electricity!
To commemorate the past 10 years, all award-winning and nationally recognized photographs will be on display together for the first time.
Location: 26316 SD Hwy 248 | Okaton, SD
8 miles west of Murdo on Hwy 248 (Old 16) | Gallery sits on north side of the highway
1.6 miles east of Okaton on Hwy 248 (Old 16), exit 183 on I-90.
An old fashioned outhouse, in keeping with the history of the schoolhouse, is available for use. Currently roofless. 😉
Grandview Gallery exists to bring meaningful quality art experiences to the rural community.
- Showcase regional artists through community gallery exhibitions
- Offer quarterly education opportunities for area youth and adults
- Gallery exhibitions featuring professional/emerging regional artists in a variety of art disciplines.
- Opportunities for the community to take classes and have hands-on instruction from professional artists in a variety of disciplines.
- Host an annual summer and Christmas Open House by Cristen Joy Photography to showcase South Dakota photographs and welcome the public.
Grandview Gallery’s goal is to enrich the community by providing quality fine art experiences while honoring the legacy of a circa 1911 schoolhouse.
The Story of Grandview Gallery
Grandview Gallery originated as a township school house, Grandview Township School. Built within 1908 – 1911 on the homestead of William F. Kennedy, approximately 4.5 miles west of Okaton, SD. It was located on the north side of Highway 248 (formerly known as Hwy 16).
In 1925, Grandview Township school was one of 54 rural schools in Jones County. Class was held until about 1959 when it’s doors were closed with only two students. A few current Jones County residents that attended were Virgil Stickler and Raymond Stotts.
In the 1980’s, the school house was moved almost six miles east to the Ed Arp ranch. It was used for storage.
September 2011, Marty and Cristen Roghair purchased property from the Ed Arp estate, including Grandview Township School.
In 2020, Cristen J. Roghair and her family cleaned out the building and hosted an open house for Cristen Joy Photography. This open house was designed to share creativity and a historical and cultural experience with patrons, buyers, friends and family.
The 2020 open house was a huge success and prompted the continuation of the event in 2021 and 2022 during Murdo’s Ranch Rodeo weekend (third weekend of July).
After the 2020 open house, a friend inquired as to the future of Grandview school. Cristen desires to continue hosting arts events within the rural community as a gallery
and art education space. The friend agreed to gift 30% of the building costs and thus, Grandview Gallery is becoming a reality.
Since the first open house a few patrons, who share my vision of renovation, have generously donated to make the Grandview Gallery a reality!
Starting in spring 2023, Phase II of IV will begin!
The Future of Grandview Gallery
Completion of Phase I ended in fall 2022. That included moving the building to pour concrete foundation pillars, place the building onto the foundation, leveling and adding in new floor joists.
Preparing for Phase III
Now that Grandview Gallery is sitting on a foundation (Phase I), a new roof, siding and windows have been installed (Phase II) we need to start working on the interior to host events
year round full of art experiences!
Phase III : Electricity, ADA accessibility
Phase IV: Restore the walls, insulation, re-installing the original floor
Phase V: Heating/Cooling
A local contractor is spearheading the project and as much as possible, we will use our local Jones County businesses for the materials.
Ways you can be involved
Current Funding for Phase III
44%
Updated June 21, 2025
Give
Grandview Gallery has been established as an LLC and all gifts to help with the renovation are considered as such.
100% of gifts go directly into the renovation project of Grandview Gallery. If you choose to use PayPal, a 3.49% processing fee will be deducted from your amount, by PayPal. You do not need a PayPal account to give in this manner.
Thank you for your part in the incredible process of restoring this historical prairie gem!
Grandview Gallery Restoration Gift
$25.00 – $1,000.00
Related products
-
- Uncategorized
Preserving the Roof Grandview Gallery Fund Raising Sticker
- $25.00 – $1,000.00
- Select options This product has multiple variants. The options may be chosen on the product page
-
- Uncategorized
Preserving the Roof Grandview Gallery Fund Raising Sticker
- $25.00 – $1,000.00
- Select options This product has multiple variants. The options may be chosen on the product page
Renovation Photos
Keep tabs on the progress as Grandview Gallery goes through the Renovation Process! Last posted photo update: 8.30.24
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6.27.23 - north siding
6.27.23
6.26.23 - First day the east windows have looked onto the prairie (wrap removed)
6.26.23 - East window framing and siding
6.20.23 - new door!
6.20.23 - new siding, south side 99% completed
6.20.23 - windows installed and siding going up!
6.8.23 - first time the schoolhouse has ever received a wrap!
6.8.23 - housewrap installed
6.6.23 - removing the siding to prepare for the wrap
6.6.23 - removing the siding to prepare for the wrap
12.10.22 - laying more crushed concrete for pathway in prep for Christmas open house
12.10.22 - subfloor replaced with new patches.
12.10.22 - subfloor replaced with new patches.
12.9.22- center pillar
12.9.22 - Initials of all who have gifted to make Phase 1 possible!
12.9.22 - Center pillar will reduce bounce to the floor.
12.9.22- subfloor removed in rotten areas to replace floor joists
12.9.22- subfloor removed in rotten areas to replace floor joists
12.9.22 - Phase 1 is nearly complete!
12.9.22 - so much progress has happened in the past two months!
12.7.22 - Grandview Gallery is on a foundation!
12.7.22 - lowering Grandview Gallery to the foundation
12.7.22 - removing channel irons from below the building
12.7.22 - removing channel irons from below the building
12.6.22 - rebar welded to metal plate on foundation pillars
12.6.22 - welding rebar to metal plates
12.6.22 - bending rebar across metal plates on foundation pillars
12.1.22 - Flooring removed to repair sections of the subfloor, which looks beautiful!
11.28.22
11.28.22 - the pillars really are level, the grade is not level to the pillars
11.28.22 - Back to the gallery site!
11.28.22 - using channel iron to distribute force as tractor pushes
11.28.22 prepping to move back
10.31.22 Unseasonable warm temps were perfect to help cure the concrete!
10.31.22 11 concrete pillars that will secure Grandview Gallery and create a stable and level foundation.
10.31.22 What a great team!
10.31.22 Pouring the 11 concrete pillars!
10.29.22 A lot of rock was found below 4'.
10.29.22 Digging 6' holes for the concrete pillars
10.29.22 Moving Grandview Gallery to a temp location in prep for foundation work!
10.29.22 Moving Grandview Gallery to a temp location in prep for foundation work!
10.29.22 Moving Grandview Gallery to a temp location in prep for foundation work!
10.29.22 Ready to move!
10.28.22 Leveling channel iron to temporary move building to.
10.28.22 Leveling channel iron to temporary move building to.
10.27.22 Lifting the building to level with support beams.
10.27.22 Attaching LVL's around the base for support and protect while moving.
10.27.22 Attaching LVL's around the base for support and protect while moving.
10.26.22 clearing the dirt around the building to prepare to lift and move for foundation.
DSC_0916-Edit wv10.26.22 clearing the dirt around the building to prepare to lift and move for foundation.
10.26.22 clearing the dirt around the building to prepare to lift and move for foundation.
September 2022 - Support beams have been delivered for the lifting of the building.
May 2022 - open concept
May 2022 - removing the crumbling ceiling
