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Forgotten plans for a 12-story sphere inspired by the U.S. Geological Survey’s (USGS) Earth Resources Observation and Science (EROS) Center are part of an exhibit at the Old Courthouse Museum in Sioux Falls, South Dakota.
“Designing Sioux Falls” features the Unisphere display of an Epcot Center-like model of a futuristic science center, the result of one man’s fascination with our Earth-observation mission.
Louis C. Warren was the Sioux Falls Chamber of Commerce president in 1970—and an enthusiastic advocate of bringing EROS to the city. Once Sioux Falls secured the bid, he began to seek ways to build on the groundswell of technical innovation he was sure would follow.
“I cry to think I am 60 years old,” he told The Rotarian magazine for a February 1972 article. “One pass of ERTS-A (Landsat 1) will spew out facts like rain!” That same month, he registered a nonprofit business with the state of South Dakota called Earth Resources Observatory, Inc.
By April 1972, Warren unveiled a model of what was then called the Erosphere project to a crowd of 400 businessmen at the Holiday Inn, touting its ability to transform Sioux Falls into a “city of dreams.” He envisioned a 230-foot diameter, 12-story sphere that would attract up to 2 million people during the tourist season, rivaling and even outpacing visitors to Mount Rushmore!
The whole project was inspired by EROS. An April 24 story in the Argus Leader, the local newspaper, about the event described the Erosphere as a learning center to complement the activities of the EROS center, which had just broken ground on April 14 and had not yet even processed one scene from Landsat 1, which wouldn’t even launch until July.
Warren planned on a grand scale. Visitors in groups of up to 175 would take an elevator to the observation deck at the top of the dome, where a planetarium would take them “on a simulated journey with the ERTS satellite as it monitors resources of the earth.” They would then descend through 36 “animated diorama” exhibits, 12 of which were to be rotating exhibits featuring the “1,000 topics of study” Warren estimated to be researched at EROS.
The story even reported that EROS project director William Fischer contacted Warren, signaling his encouragement for the “living science center.” Later, the Erosphere model was displayed at the first annual William T. Pecora Memorial Remote Sensing Symposium in October 1975, also held in the Sioux Falls Holiday Inn.
Warren’s dream gained momentum. The South Dakota Legislature gave Warren \$130,000 under the Bicentennial project to create a model developed by Spitznagel Partners Inc.—the same architectural firm that designed EROS. The nonprofit then commissioned an economic feasibility assessment from a Massachusetts firm, the Arthur D. Little Company. The company’s report suggested the sphere complex would garner \$5.5 million in tax revenue to Sioux Falls and \$7.1 million for South Dakota, with 500,000 visitors in the first year.
Most significantly, a location was designated: the then-undeveloped land southeast of the intersection of Interstates 90 and 29. The 245-acre campus now was expected to host an “exhibit space, an eartharium, a Farm of the Future, an Earth Studies Institute, theatres, restaurants, motel rooms and convention space, parking, campgrounds, visitor information and open space for public recreation and community events.” A March 1980 op-ed by Warren in the Argus Leader mentions that EROS could “establish public information facilities and conduct workshops” in the sphere.
To avoid over-identification between the Erosphere and EROS, however, the project’s name was changed to “Unisphere, Forum of the Future.” And maybe that’s ultimately a good thing. For whatever reason, despite acquiring city, state and federal subsidies and the rights to buy the land, the project never attracted the national investments needed to begin construction. An October 3, 1982, Argus Leader feature questioned the timing of the Unisphere, noting that Disney’s similar Epcot Center had opened only two weeks previously and that the June 15, 1983, deadline for fundraising to buy the land was fast approaching.
Today, all that remains of Louis C. Warren’s grand scheme is the Spitznagel model of the project and some brochures and posters, all on display at the Old Courthouse Museum until spring. The original model that Warren displayed in 1972 to businessmen and then later at the Pecora Symposium was rumored to be on display at a local bank for a while, but its whereabouts are currently unknown.
Enjoy our 50th anniversary video and several podcasts related to the history of EROS.
For 50 years, the people of EROS have overcome difficulties and celebrated triumphs together, always centered on providing a perspective of the Earth that helps us better understand its condition. This video, timed with the 50th anniversary celebration at EROS in August of 2023, explores the center's history. 00:00 Introduction 00:08 1966-1979 - How Sioux Falls Ingenuity Secured the Center 08:26...
The National Land Cover Database (NLCD) has a long history as the definitive U.S. land cover product. But the newer Land Change Monitoring, Assessment and Projection (LCMAP) effort takes a longer look back in time.
The National Land Cover Database (NLCD) has a long history as the definitive U.S. land cover product. But the newer Land Change Monitoring, Assessment and Projection (LCMAP) effort takes a longer look back in time.
Several decades ago, USGS EROS employees were pioneers in land cover mapping—turning satellite imagery into a record of what covers the land, from farmland to forest to urban areas. National and global datasets with a variety of uses resulted from these efforts.
Several decades ago, USGS EROS employees were pioneers in land cover mapping—turning satellite imagery into a record of what covers the land, from farmland to forest to urban areas. National and global datasets with a variety of uses resulted from these efforts.
At the USGS EROS 50th anniversary events on August 17-19, 2023, a special effort was made to include alumni who had worked at the center, especially those from the earliest years of EROS’ existence. This episode of Eyes on Earth is the second to highlight their stories, with emphasis on science, technology, and EROS’ international outlook.
At the USGS EROS 50th anniversary events on August 17-19, 2023, a special effort was made to include alumni who had worked at the center, especially those from the earliest years of EROS’ existence. This episode of Eyes on Earth is the second to highlight their stories, with emphasis on science, technology, and EROS’ international outlook.
At the USGS EROS 50th anniversary events on August 17-19, 2023, a special effort was made to include alumni who had worked at the center, especially those from the earliest years of EROS’ existence. This episode of Eyes on Earth highlights their stories, with emphasis on EROS’ history and its dedicated employees.
At the USGS EROS 50th anniversary events on August 17-19, 2023, a special effort was made to include alumni who had worked at the center, especially those from the earliest years of EROS’ existence. This episode of Eyes on Earth highlights their stories, with emphasis on EROS’ history and its dedicated employees.
Landsat satellites move in a polar orbit from north to south at over 27,000 kilometers per hour. For the ten meter antenna at EROS, a typical flyover, also known as a pass, lasts 14 minutes from horizon to horizon.
Landsat satellites move in a polar orbit from north to south at over 27,000 kilometers per hour. For the ten meter antenna at EROS, a typical flyover, also known as a pass, lasts 14 minutes from horizon to horizon.
EROS Center Director Pete Doucette has been at EROS for a fairly short stretch of the center’s 50-year history, but his passion for the mission of EROS and its opportunities in the future are clear in this episode of Eyes on Earth.
EROS Center Director Pete Doucette has been at EROS for a fairly short stretch of the center’s 50-year history, but his passion for the mission of EROS and its opportunities in the future are clear in this episode of Eyes on Earth.
As USGS EROS turns 50 this month, our Eyes on Earth podcast also marks a big moment: Episode 100. To celebrate, we bring together some treasured moments from previous episodes in which people inside and outside of EROS share their thoughts on EROS and its role in the world of remote sensing, including as keeper of all Landsat satellite data.
As USGS EROS turns 50 this month, our Eyes on Earth podcast also marks a big moment: Episode 100. To celebrate, we bring together some treasured moments from previous episodes in which people inside and outside of EROS share their thoughts on EROS and its role in the world of remote sensing, including as keeper of all Landsat satellite data.
EROS has a long history of reaching out to universities to welcome interns who can both contribute to the center and gain valuable skills and experience. A good number of them went on to spend their careers at EROS, some for more than three decades.
EROS has a long history of reaching out to universities to welcome interns who can both contribute to the center and gain valuable skills and experience. A good number of them went on to spend their careers at EROS, some for more than three decades.
In this episode of Eyes on Earth, we talk about the 50-year history of EROS efforts to preserve the environment and conserve energy. EROS was born in the ’70s, the same decade as Earth Day, the EPA, and the oil crisis.
In this episode of Eyes on Earth, we talk about the 50-year history of EROS efforts to preserve the environment and conserve energy. EROS was born in the ’70s, the same decade as Earth Day, the EPA, and the oil crisis.
In this bonus material for episode 97 of the Eyes on Earth podcast, the three guests, all engineers at USGS EROS who started the Earth As Art project, talk about their favorite Earth As Art images.
In this bonus material for episode 97 of the Eyes on Earth podcast, the three guests, all engineers at USGS EROS who started the Earth As Art project, talk about their favorite Earth As Art images.
Satellites capture an incredible variety of views of Earth. In this episode of Eyes on Earth, we talk with the three engineers at USGS EROS who started the USGS Earth As Art project. The Earth As Art origin story is an example of the initiative and creativity of EROS staff.
Satellites capture an incredible variety of views of Earth. In this episode of Eyes on Earth, we talk with the three engineers at USGS EROS who started the USGS Earth As Art project. The Earth As Art origin story is an example of the initiative and creativity of EROS staff.
The members of the five-year Landsat Science Teams, led jointly by the USGS and NASA with a strong tie to EROS, have brought a wide breadth of expertise, backgrounds and geographic locations to the table.
The members of the five-year Landsat Science Teams, led jointly by the USGS and NASA with a strong tie to EROS, have brought a wide breadth of expertise, backgrounds and geographic locations to the table.
South Dakota State University opened its Remote Sensing Institute even before the launch of Landsat 1 and the selection of South Dakota as the location for EROS.
South Dakota State University opened its Remote Sensing Institute even before the launch of Landsat 1 and the selection of South Dakota as the location for EROS.
Working with film has always been part of EROS’ 50-year history. How did EROS end up with an extensive film archive, and how are we making that data available to users? In this episode of Eyes on Earth, we talk about the custom scanners built in-house from discarded parts to digitally capture historical aerial photos and declassified spy satellite images.
Working with film has always been part of EROS’ 50-year history. How did EROS end up with an extensive film archive, and how are we making that data available to users? In this episode of Eyes on Earth, we talk about the custom scanners built in-house from discarded parts to digitally capture historical aerial photos and declassified spy satellite images.
The Don Lee Kulow Library has been supporting scientific research at EROS since before the facility opened its doors in 1973.
The Don Lee Kulow Library has been supporting scientific research at EROS since before the facility opened its doors in 1973.
Read more stories about the 50-year history of USGS EROS.
Enjoy our 50th anniversary video and several podcasts related to the history of EROS.
For 50 years, the people of EROS have overcome difficulties and celebrated triumphs together, always centered on providing a perspective of the Earth that helps us better understand its condition. This video, timed with the 50th anniversary celebration at EROS in August of 2023, explores the center's history. 00:00 Introduction 00:08 1966-1979 - How Sioux Falls Ingenuity Secured the Center 08:26...
The National Land Cover Database (NLCD) has a long history as the definitive U.S. land cover product. But the newer Land Change Monitoring, Assessment and Projection (LCMAP) effort takes a longer look back in time.
The National Land Cover Database (NLCD) has a long history as the definitive U.S. land cover product. But the newer Land Change Monitoring, Assessment and Projection (LCMAP) effort takes a longer look back in time.
Several decades ago, USGS EROS employees were pioneers in land cover mapping—turning satellite imagery into a record of what covers the land, from farmland to forest to urban areas. National and global datasets with a variety of uses resulted from these efforts.
Several decades ago, USGS EROS employees were pioneers in land cover mapping—turning satellite imagery into a record of what covers the land, from farmland to forest to urban areas. National and global datasets with a variety of uses resulted from these efforts.
At the USGS EROS 50th anniversary events on August 17-19, 2023, a special effort was made to include alumni who had worked at the center, especially those from the earliest years of EROS’ existence. This episode of Eyes on Earth is the second to highlight their stories, with emphasis on science, technology, and EROS’ international outlook.
At the USGS EROS 50th anniversary events on August 17-19, 2023, a special effort was made to include alumni who had worked at the center, especially those from the earliest years of EROS’ existence. This episode of Eyes on Earth is the second to highlight their stories, with emphasis on science, technology, and EROS’ international outlook.
At the USGS EROS 50th anniversary events on August 17-19, 2023, a special effort was made to include alumni who had worked at the center, especially those from the earliest years of EROS’ existence. This episode of Eyes on Earth highlights their stories, with emphasis on EROS’ history and its dedicated employees.
At the USGS EROS 50th anniversary events on August 17-19, 2023, a special effort was made to include alumni who had worked at the center, especially those from the earliest years of EROS’ existence. This episode of Eyes on Earth highlights their stories, with emphasis on EROS’ history and its dedicated employees.
Landsat satellites move in a polar orbit from north to south at over 27,000 kilometers per hour. For the ten meter antenna at EROS, a typical flyover, also known as a pass, lasts 14 minutes from horizon to horizon.
Landsat satellites move in a polar orbit from north to south at over 27,000 kilometers per hour. For the ten meter antenna at EROS, a typical flyover, also known as a pass, lasts 14 minutes from horizon to horizon.
EROS Center Director Pete Doucette has been at EROS for a fairly short stretch of the center’s 50-year history, but his passion for the mission of EROS and its opportunities in the future are clear in this episode of Eyes on Earth.
EROS Center Director Pete Doucette has been at EROS for a fairly short stretch of the center’s 50-year history, but his passion for the mission of EROS and its opportunities in the future are clear in this episode of Eyes on Earth.
As USGS EROS turns 50 this month, our Eyes on Earth podcast also marks a big moment: Episode 100. To celebrate, we bring together some treasured moments from previous episodes in which people inside and outside of EROS share their thoughts on EROS and its role in the world of remote sensing, including as keeper of all Landsat satellite data.
As USGS EROS turns 50 this month, our Eyes on Earth podcast also marks a big moment: Episode 100. To celebrate, we bring together some treasured moments from previous episodes in which people inside and outside of EROS share their thoughts on EROS and its role in the world of remote sensing, including as keeper of all Landsat satellite data.
EROS has a long history of reaching out to universities to welcome interns who can both contribute to the center and gain valuable skills and experience. A good number of them went on to spend their careers at EROS, some for more than three decades.
EROS has a long history of reaching out to universities to welcome interns who can both contribute to the center and gain valuable skills and experience. A good number of them went on to spend their careers at EROS, some for more than three decades.
In this episode of Eyes on Earth, we talk about the 50-year history of EROS efforts to preserve the environment and conserve energy. EROS was born in the ’70s, the same decade as Earth Day, the EPA, and the oil crisis.
In this episode of Eyes on Earth, we talk about the 50-year history of EROS efforts to preserve the environment and conserve energy. EROS was born in the ’70s, the same decade as Earth Day, the EPA, and the oil crisis.
In this bonus material for episode 97 of the Eyes on Earth podcast, the three guests, all engineers at USGS EROS who started the Earth As Art project, talk about their favorite Earth As Art images.
In this bonus material for episode 97 of the Eyes on Earth podcast, the three guests, all engineers at USGS EROS who started the Earth As Art project, talk about their favorite Earth As Art images.
Satellites capture an incredible variety of views of Earth. In this episode of Eyes on Earth, we talk with the three engineers at USGS EROS who started the USGS Earth As Art project. The Earth As Art origin story is an example of the initiative and creativity of EROS staff.
Satellites capture an incredible variety of views of Earth. In this episode of Eyes on Earth, we talk with the three engineers at USGS EROS who started the USGS Earth As Art project. The Earth As Art origin story is an example of the initiative and creativity of EROS staff.
The members of the five-year Landsat Science Teams, led jointly by the USGS and NASA with a strong tie to EROS, have brought a wide breadth of expertise, backgrounds and geographic locations to the table.
The members of the five-year Landsat Science Teams, led jointly by the USGS and NASA with a strong tie to EROS, have brought a wide breadth of expertise, backgrounds and geographic locations to the table.
South Dakota State University opened its Remote Sensing Institute even before the launch of Landsat 1 and the selection of South Dakota as the location for EROS.
South Dakota State University opened its Remote Sensing Institute even before the launch of Landsat 1 and the selection of South Dakota as the location for EROS.
Working with film has always been part of EROS’ 50-year history. How did EROS end up with an extensive film archive, and how are we making that data available to users? In this episode of Eyes on Earth, we talk about the custom scanners built in-house from discarded parts to digitally capture historical aerial photos and declassified spy satellite images.
Working with film has always been part of EROS’ 50-year history. How did EROS end up with an extensive film archive, and how are we making that data available to users? In this episode of Eyes on Earth, we talk about the custom scanners built in-house from discarded parts to digitally capture historical aerial photos and declassified spy satellite images.
The Don Lee Kulow Library has been supporting scientific research at EROS since before the facility opened its doors in 1973.
The Don Lee Kulow Library has been supporting scientific research at EROS since before the facility opened its doors in 1973.
Read more stories about the 50-year history of USGS EROS.
