Discover I90 2023

2023 SOUTH DAKOTA DISCOVER

TRAVEL GUIDE FROM THE FALLS TO THE FACES

EXPLORETHESPIRITOFSOUTH

DAKOTA fromtheruggedbadlands tothewide-openprairieattheSouth DakotaArtMuseum.Galleriesrange fromNativeAmericanartto the worksofHarveyDunn.

VISITMcCRORYGARDENS and strollthroughnearly25acresofformal gardensand a45-acrearboretum. McCrory Gardensprominentlysits onthesoutheastsideofthe South DakotaState Universitycampus.

FROM FARMINGTOFOODS the South DakotaAgriculturalHeritageMuseum exploresthehistory, cultureandscienceof agricultureinSouthDakota.Themuseum ishousedinthehistoric1918Stock JudgingPavilion on theSDSU campus.

FOODNETWORK MAGAZINE saidthe SDSUDairyBarsells thebest icecream inSouth Dakota. ManufacturedbySDSU studentsinthe adjoining DavisDairyPlant, ourcow-to-coneicecreamprocessensures visitors a memorablescoop.

2023 SUMMER EVENTS

For more information on this publication, contact the Mitchell Republic at 605-996-5514. Design/Layout: Chris Johnson, FCC Creative. Photo credits: Mitchell Republic sta , le photos, Mitchell Convention and Visitors Bureau, South Dakota Department of Tourism, Chamberlain Chamber of Commerce, Crazy Horse Memorial, Visit Sioux Falls, www.nps.gov/mimi/index and blackhillsbadlands.com. While every e ort has been made to ensure the accuracy of all information herein, it is subject to change after the date this publication was printed.

SOUTH DAKOTA

THE FALLS

At 202,600 residents, Sioux Falls is the state’s largest city. It is home to much of the state’s big business, minor league professional sports, opportunities for fine art and the Big Sioux River, for which the city is named.

The actual trip from Sioux Falls to Mitchell covers 70 miles, give or take a few, but the westward stretch of I-90

is much farther than that in spirit. The span between Sioux Falls and Mitchell is truly where the West begins, and few places in the Midwest offer such a sweeping change in scenery and spirit in such a short drive.

Visitors who leave Sioux Falls and head west soon see bison (South Dakotans generally call them “buffalo”) grazing in grassy pastures

near Hartford. They also see some of the first evidence of heavy tourism, too, with billboards pointing the way toward visitor destinations ahead. This area is mainly farm country. Around here, corn is king, planted in April and harvested in October. Soybeans and winter wheat – which emerge with a blazing bright green hue in the spring — are also common.

South Dakota is known as “The Land of Infinite Variety” and Sioux Falls epitomizes that slogan perhaps more than any other city in the state. Founded along the banks of the Big Sioux River, Sioux Falls got its name from the mighty falls that thunder on the city’s north end.

From its agrarian beginnings in 1856, Sioux Falls has exploded in population, from 100,000 in 1990 to 202,600 today. That growth has come thanks to Sioux Falls’ ability to constantly change with the times. For years, Sioux Falls was known as a cattle and meat-packing town, yet it has morphed into a banking and business community, a destination for health care, and a departure point for outward travel, thanks to its regional airport.

Battleship Memorial: For a leg-stretching break or a picnic spot, check out the USS South Dakota Battleship Memorial, which consists of a one-foot-high concrete barrier in the outline of the ship and some salvaged pieces from the vessel, all within Sherman Park.

Bike trails and parks: Sioux Falls is home to over 80 beautiful parks: Arrowhead Park, Family Park, McKennan Park, Japanese Gardens at Terrace Park and Yankton Trail Park, just to name a few. The centrally located Falls Park is the hub of the park system and connected to many of the city’s other parks via the bike trail corridor, which encircles the city, and includes long stretches along the Big Sioux River.

Steve Cukrov / Shutterstock

USS South Dakota Battleship Memorial

Catfish Bay: The Greatest Show on H2O is ranked one of the top attractions to see a water skiing, comedy adventure with the whole family. This man-made, 25-acre private water ski park is located on I-90 near Cliff Avenue, with bleacher seating for over 1,000 people, concessions and parking for all.

Concerts: Sioux Falls has fabulous entertainment options at the Denny Sanford PREMIER Center, Sioux Falls Arena, The District, Total Drag, Orpheum Theater and Washington Pavilion’s Mary W. Sommervold Great Hall. There are lots of local band shows at venues all around town, as well. With bigname concerts, children’s shows, plays and symphonic/musical performances, there is something to please everyone.

Eateries: Food is a huge reason many people love to travel. If this is true for you, swing by Sioux Falls, where you’ll find an assortment of places using fresh seasonal ingredients and robust flavors with a cozy Midwestern atmosphere.

Falls Park: First-time visitors to Sioux Falls would be remiss to not stop and see the city’s namesake, located along North Phillips Avenue, near downtown. A century ago, the three-tiered falls were used to power a mill and, later, a hydroelectric plant. Foundations of these buildings are still visible.

Attractions of Falls Park include a breathtaking 360-degree view of the park from the five-story viewing tower and an information center. The Open Air Shelter is home to the Falls Park Farmer’s Market and is available for large picnics, special events and more, with electric and water services available.

The Falls Overlook Cafe is dining with a view located in the old Sioux Falls Light and Power Company hydroelectric plant building. Falls Park lights up with thousands of dazzling lights from mid-November through early January with “Winter Wonderland at Falls Park.”

Catfish Bay - The Greatest Show on H2O

Falls Park

Ray Photography / Shutterstock

Michael Tatman / Shutterstock.com

Falls Park

Dimock Cheese

South Dakota Made Cheese Products since 1931

Dimock Dairy Inc., located in Dimock South Dakota, the heart of pheasant country. Throughout the years, Dimock Dairy continues to make premium handmade cheese and cheese products. We have 30 cheese flavors and variety of cheese products made with the best ingredient’s available.

Aged Cheddar (yellow or white)

Bacon and Onion

Black Pepper

Bleu Cheddar

Cheddar

Caraway (Seasonal)

Dimock Cheese offers a variety South Dakota made gifts and products.

Chipotle Colby

Colby Jack

Dill

Garden Medley

Garlic and Parsley

Ghost Pepper

Habanero

Horseradish

Monterey Jack

Pepper Colby Jack

Pepper Jack

Pepperoni

Ranch

Salsa

Smoked Cheddar

Tomato and Basil

Prairie Heat

New Flavors

Raspberry Jalapeno

Premium Aged

Cheddar

Wild Italian

Blueberry Cheese

Smokey Bacon Ranch

Festivals & Fairs: Sioux Falls is home to such events as Siouxland Renaissance Festival (happening in June), Treasure At The River Festival (happening in June), JazzFest (happening in July), Hot Summer Nites (happening in July), Hot Harley Nights (happening in July), Sioux Empire Fair (happening in August), Downtown Zombie Walk (happening in October) and much more!

Great Plains Zoo and Delbridge Museum of Natural History: Spend a morning, afternoon or the whole day roaming the grounds of this great zoo, with all sorts of animals, from bison to penguins. It’s open year round, but some animals may be off display, and some exhibits may be closed due to weather. The museum is home to a one-in-the-world collection of 150 mounted animals, interactive play areas for children, with traveling special exhibits and a gift shop.

Museums and History: There are several museums around town, including the Pettigrew Home and Museum, Sioux Empire Medical Museum, Old Courthouse Museum, SD African-American History Museum and the Museum of Visual Materials, to name a few. Also for the history buff there are historical markers and walking tours available throughout the city.

Nightlife: The energy of this city’s nightlife is electric! There is a little bit of everything from country-themed dance clubs, hipster-chic night clubs, sports bars and grills, with many more places where you can either let loose

or relax for an evening of fun.

The Outdoor Campus: The Outdoor Campus is part of South Dakota Game, Fish and Parks. They teach premier outdoor skills like hunting and fishing, cross-country skiing, shooting a bow and arrow, cooking wild game in a Dutch oven, gardening for butterflies and more!

Sertoma Butterfly House & Marine Cove: Enjoy over 800 free-flying butterflies from around the world in this tropical conservatory. View hundreds of vibrant marine fishes and corals in more than 20,000 gallons of aquariums, including the Pop-Up Dome Aquarium, Shark & Stingray Touch Pool, and Pacific Tide Pool.

Shopping: Sioux Falls has become a shopping destination for most of southeastern South Dakota, with the Empire Mall anchoring the city’s southwest side. Visit the downtown area to take in the numerous shops and specialty boutiques in this quaint neighborhood. The Lake Lorraine area on the city’s west side offers outdoor recreation spaces and trendy shopping. Don’t forget the many strip malls and other unique stores scattered all over the city for a complete shopping experience.

Sports: Minor league and semi-professional sports teams play year round in Sioux Falls, bringing fans to excellent sports facilities like the Denny Sanford PREMIER Center, Sioux Falls Arena, Sioux Falls Stadium, Sanford Pentagon and Howard Wood Field.

Sertoma Butterfly House & Marine Cove

Tyrannosaurus rex at the Washington Pavillion Lost_in_the_Midwest / Shutterstock

Thunder Road: You’ll want to make this a frequent destination throughout the spring, summer or fall. There are many activities to choose from, like the pedal-to-the-metal excitement of go-kart racing, a leisurely round of mini golf, or the adrenaline rush of a bungee jump as you perform gravity-defying moves on the EuroBungy, and so much more!

Washington Pavilion: Includes the Kirby Science Discovery Center featuring more than 100 exciting hands-on exhibits and the Wells Fargo CineDome Theater with its 60-foot wide, four-story screen. Located downtown, the Pavilion also hosts top-notch entertainment. The perfect indoor solution for a freezing winter — or sweltering summer — day.

Wild Water West Waterpark: Sioux Falls is home to one of the region’s top water parks, Wild Water West. The park features waterslides, a lazy river, children’s water features, a wave pool, and a wide array of non-water-related recreational options, including mini golf, batting cages and paintball.

Wineries and Breweries: There are several local wineries and breweries popping up in the Sioux Falls area with the likes of Fernson Brewery Company, Dakota Falls Winery, Prairie Berry East Bank, Strawbale Winery and Wild Prairie Winery. These places offer a rural, country feel as you taste their locally made beverages.

Wild Water West Waterpark

THE PALACE

Driving along I-90 between Mitchell and Chamberlain, visitors aren’t yet bombarded with many pleas from beckoning tourist attractions; however, that doesn’t mean there aren’t places to stop!

Sports fans should take notice that three world-class athletes grew up in these areas.

Riley Reiff, an offensive lineman for the New England

Patriots, has become a stalwart lineman in the NFL. He grew up in nearby Parkston and was a first-round draft pick in 2012 out of the University of Iowa by the Detroit Lions. He’s also played for the Minnesota Vikings, Cincinnati Bengals and the Chicago Bears.

A couple of now-retired legends also call the area home. Mike Miller, the former

University of Florida star and NBA Rookie of the Year, grew up in Mitchell and played his prep basketball in the Corn Palace. He won two NBA Championships playing with LeBron James and the Miami Heat. Chad Greenway, formerly of the University of Iowa, played his entire 11-year NFL career with the Minnesota Vikings and hails from Mount Vernon.

Wirestock Creators / Shutterstock.com

Stop in to any of these towns and the locals likely can tell you about the exploits of these players as they led their teams to state high school titles.

The area is also a fervent baseball hotbed, with local teams that have passionate fans.

In 2023, the stadium is scheduled to host the South Dakota Amateur Baseball Association tournament, a 12-day, 32-team event, in August.

Hungry? The small towns between Mitchell and Chamberlain generally have uptown restaurants that feature true homestyle cooking. Vacations are built around fast food, but sometimes it’s nice to stop off the highway and enjoy a meal in the slower pace of a small town.

The first known residents of the Mitchell area were a farmer-hunter Native American tribe now known as the Pre-Mandan. They settled on the banks of Firesteel Creek. It is now the location on Lake Mitchell known as the Prehistoric Indian Village. They occupied this area from 1000 A.D. to 1100 A.D.

In August 1879, the original townsite of the town of Mitchell was platted. The town was named in honor of Milwaukee banker Alexander Mitchell, then president of the Chicago, Milwaukee and St. Paul Railroad. The townsite covered 75 acres.

In the spring of 1881, the town of Mitchell was incorporated as a village, and from 1887 until the present, the city of Mitchell has existed. Today Mitchell’s population is about 15,600.

The World’s Only Corn Palace

Bike trails: An aggressive program of bike trail construction is underway in Mitchell, adding to the many trails already in the city. One of the most popular paths is the Dry Run Creek segment, which stretches west-to-east through much of the city along Dry Run Creek and many wooded areas.

Carnegie Resource Center: History and gene alogy researchers will find a treasure trove of information about, and photographs of, families, businesses and happenings in the area, dating from Mitchell’s beginning along the James River as Firesteel in 1879. Visitors can view diplomas, yearbooks, photos, and newspaper articles pertaining to the history of Mitchell’s public and parochial schools.

The interior of the dome of the CRC is adorned by the mural “Sun and Rain Clouds Over Hills,” by Oscar Howe, a Yanktonai Sioux artist who painted it in 1940 as a WPA project. From 1948 through 1971, Howe designed the mural panels for the Corn Palace.

The CRC also houses the Clyde and Mary Goin Corn Palace Collection which depicts the history of Mitchell’s three Corn Palaces. Signed glossy photos by many of the famous performers at the Corn Palace, among them Bob Hope and Red Skelton, are displayed, along with countless items of Corn Palace memorabilia.

Organizations and families can also schedule social events and meetings at the CRC. Books, monographs, historic original postcards, CDs and DVDs are available for purchase.

Carnegie Resource Center

Corn Palace: The World’s Only Corn Palace stands as a majestic, uniquely American, folk art icon on the rolling prairies of South Dakota. The first Mitchell Corn Palace was built in 1892, just three years after South Dakota became a state – when the city was 12 years old. Early settlers dramatically displayed their agricultural bounty on the building’s exterior to prove the fertility of the region’s soil. The Corn Palace that now sits on Main Street between Sixth and Seventh Avenues is actually the third Corn Palace in Mitchell, but its purpose hasn’t changed. The building is famous for the huge, colorful murals on its exterior, which are redesigned every year. 2015 brought major renovations to the interior and exterior of the building, including color-changing light-up domes, a balcony on the front, and a remodeled entryway and lobby. In the evening, the lighting makes the exterior a spectacular sight.

Steve Cukrov / Shutterstock

Address: 2611 North Main St.

After Hours: 605-990-6739

A family camping center overlooking Lake Mitchell with fishing, swimming, canoes, pedal boats, paddle boards, playground, hiking trail and a laundry facility.

The campground includes 49 RV campsites with full hookups & 9 Tent Sites.

The campground is open from April 1 - October 31.

Full hookups include water, sewer and electricity.

RV sites have 50-amp or 30-amp sites available; tent sites with electricity are also available.

Online reservations can be

made year-round. Reservable dates are May 15 through September 15.

First-come, first served sites are available daily but not guaranteed.

Self-pay system is utilized for first-come, first-served. There is no manager on site, but campground hosts are available to assist campers.

RATES

Mitchell Campground1/2 HourNightMonthly RV Sites with Full Hookups $38$525 Tent Sites $23

Tent Sites with Electricity $25 Paddle Board, Pedal Boat & Canoe Rentals $6 Bike Rentals

(Tax NOT included in listed prices.)

CAMPGROUND SITES

Reservations are available but not required. We are currently taking online reservations for 2023 (online reservation fee is 4.95%). Reservations are accepted up to one week in advance; available sites within the week will be on first-come, first-served basis. All reservable sites that have not been reserved are available to campers who arrive without a reservation. The maximum allowable stay limit will depend on the next date for which the site has been reserved.

The work to create the murals is done by hand. Beginning in late May and working through the end of July, the rye and sour dock are removed from the building and replaced with new bundles.

Then that year’s chosen sketches are transferred to roofing paper which is nailed in to the mural panels. The 13 shades of colored corn used on the building are grown locally and handpicked. Each corn cob is sawed in half, shaped and trimmed to fit the designated spaces, then nailed into place. Approximately 275,000 ears of corn are used to bring the murals to life.

During the summer months the Corn Palace offers free tours led by friendly guides full of a-maize-ing facts. The tour also features an outstanding video explaining the Corn Palace story. After the tour you can view displays about the Corn Palace, how the murals are created, see pictures of entertainers from the past, and learn how the corn is grown.

During the rest of the year the building is used for many purposes, including as a basketball arena, a concert venue, an indoor rodeo arena, trade shows, graduation ceremonies, high school prom, and the Shrine Circus, to name a few. Come experience it! Visiting is FREE!

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Inside the World’s Only Corn Palace

Nagel Photography / Shutterstock

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Dakota Discovery Museum: The museum covers the time period from 1600, when the Native Americans were still largely undiscovered, to the Dust Bowl era of the 1930s.

Here you will learn about the American Indian cultures that once dominated the Plains. Among the exhibits that help tell the Indian story are a tipi and numerous Indian garments and artifacts, including one of the most complete and pristine collections of American Indian quill and beadwork.

The story of the settlers who brought crops and cattle to the Plains is told with the aid of vintage farm and ranch equipment, including an impressive sheep wagon once lived in by sheepherders.

One of South Dakota’s most promi nent artists, Oscar Howe, has some of his most prominent works here. Howe is con sidered a key influential figure in modern Native American art.

He matured as an artist while living in Mitchell, earning his bachelor’s degree from Dakota Wesleyan University in 1952 and serving as an artist-in-residence at the school. He also designed the Corn Palace murals from 1948 through 1971.

South Dakota native Charles Hargens Jr., also has art displayed at the museum. Hargens was known for his scenes of

The Dakota Discovery Museum

the Old West and his attention to detail and accuracy, having been commissioned to create paintings and drawings for more than 300 books and 3,000 magazines.

In the outdoor campus behind the main building are four authentic historic buildings, including an 1885 one-room schoolhouse and the fully furnished 1886 Victorian-Italianate home of the co-founder of the Corn Palace, Louis Beckwith. Visitors walking through the buildings will be transported back in time.

Also outside are DiscoveryLand, a hands-on activity area for children ages five to ten, and the Heritage Gardens Project, which brings indigenous plants to the gardens surrounding the museum and historic buildings.

Golfing: The city has two top-notch 18-hole golf courses, Lakeview Municipal and Wild Oak. Lakeview, along Lake Mitchell, is considered one of the top municipal courses in the state. Wild Oak features nine holes along Firesteel Creek and nine holes on higher ground.

Guns of History Gun Gallery: Firearms from the Native American wars of 1860 to 1890, including the battles of Little Bighorn and Rosebud, will be on display at the Guns of History Gun Gallery. Located at 700 N. Sanborn Blvd. in Mitchell, the museum occupies an attached space east of Palace City Pawn. Open seasonally, it has a separate entrance, and admission will be charged. The museum is starting with 30 pieces connected with Sioux Chiefs, the Cheyenne, and U.S. Cavalry, including Civil War-era pistols. A rotating display of other consequential weapons on loan from a network of collectors will accompany the permanent pieces. There is a sense of history’s weight when you carefully pick up the Winchester 1873 carbine that Crazy Horse aimed at uniformed men near the smoke-filled banks of the Little Bighorn River in June 1876. Each piece inside the museum will be accompanied by a detailed pedigree, including explanations of the carved markings found on the stocks.

Only Limited by Your Imagination!OwnedLocally

Farwell Church

Guns of History Gun Gallery

Lake Mitchell: Besides the obvious boating and fishing opportunities at Lake Mitchell, which is in the northwest corner of the city, there are also public beaches, parks and trails around the lake. The very popular campground that overlooks Lake Mitchell is a family camping center with fishing, swimming, boating, paddle boats, a playground, and a laundry facility. Kiwanis Woodlot Park is especially popular, and there are hiking and mountain-biking trails that begin there and offer lake views.

Lake Mitchell

McGovern Library & Legacy Museum: George McGovern influenced a generation of voters with his opposition to the Vietnam War and his commitment to liberal principles. In Mitchell, that legacy comes alive at the McGovern Legacy Museum.

Inside the McGovern Legacy Museum, all of those rich life experiences are vibrantly explained with the help of interactive audio and video displays narrated by McGovern himself, and with memorabilia from throughout McGovern’s life.

Among the highlights of the exhibit is a stylized version of McGovern’s 1972 campaign plane, the Dakota Queen II. Visitors can sit in one of the airplane seats and watch video clips from McGovern’s acceptance speech at the 1972 Democratic National Convention, where he gave his “Come Home, America” address. Politically-minded tourists will delight in the campaign memorabilia and artifacts, including posters, photos, buttons and even shoeboxes full of note cards McGovern kept about the people he met on the campaign trail.

The Holiday Inn Express Hotel &Suites Mitchell is the latest addition to the growing Mitchell area! Ideally located just off Interstate 90 at Exit 332, we’re next to Cabela’s and some of the best upland game hunting in the country.

McGovern Library & Legacy Museum

Outdoor Aquatic Center: One of Mitchell’s jewels is a multimillion-dollar, family-friendly facility featuring zero-entry play areas for small kids, which provides quality recreational swimming experiences for all ages in Mitchell and the surrounding communities.

A 50-meter 6-lane competition pool with depths ranging from 3 to 12 feet meets the needs of swimmers ages 8 and older, while a zero-depth entry into the wading area will give plenty of room for our youngest swimmers (toddlers on up) and their parents.

A double slide with runs of over 100 feet will be an exciting experience for anyone 48 inches or taller. The zero-depth area will host play features such as a toddler turtle slide, and interactive features such as bubbling geysers, spraying mushrooms, tumble buckets and starburst sprayers. Older swimmers will enjoy the Water Walk in the plunge area and the Drop Slide in the deep end.

Parks: Mitchell has a fantastic park system with 10-plus parks to enjoy and explore, the pride of which is Hitchcock Park.

Hitchcock Park includes the Outdoor Aquatic Center, a bandshell, a playground, tennis courts, a gazebo and lots of places to picnic or rest.

They didn’t forget about man’s best friend when it comes to Mitchell’s Dog Park. It’s located on the south end of Cadwell Park and features a 2.3 acre area for large dogs and a 0.85 acre area small dog enclosure. Both areas are shaded and equipped with drinking fountains, benches and gravel pathways. We ask that users be responsible and clean up after their pets.

The Pride of Mitchell, Hitchcock Park

Outdoor Aquatic Center

Prehistoric Indian Village: Discovery of prehistoric fossils was first made by a student of Dakota Wesleyan Uni versity in 1910, but it wasn’t until 1975 that the site was preserved by the Mitchell Prehistoric Indian Village Preservation Society.

This archaeological site is open to the public. It is a National Historic Landmark and it is on the National Registry.

Each summer archaeologists excavate the site, near Lake Mitchell, to learn more about the first settlers who lived here in the Northern Plains, believed to have been ancestors of the present-day Mandan.

Guests can watch as the archaeologists uncover artifacts in the comfort of the climate-controlled Thomsen Center Archeodome and tour the Boehnen Memorial Museum to see a reconstructed lodge and many of the 1.5 million artifacts recovered from the site throughout its years. The Shoppe Antiquary has an extensive collection of Native American, indigenous, and regional art, jewelry, pottery, books and more.

Much of the information learned at the village dates back to previous inhabitants who lived at the site 1,100 years ago.

“Where

They lived in earthen lodges, which were circular mounds. This area was a major bison processing center, as people extracted bone grease from the animal to produce pemmican, a mixture of fat and protein which provided nutrition during the era.

There is a special site created for children to practice their archaeology skills and dig for a free arrowhead. You can also learn how to throw a spear using an atlatl. Picnic tables for visitors are set up along the lake and on the bluff overlooking the lake.

Prehistoric Indian Village

THE RIVER

Our forefathers would be surprised by today’s Missouri River. When Lewis and Clark passed this way in 1804-1806, the river ran fast and brown; hence its former nickname, the “Big Muddy.” Settlers who came here in the 1870s and 1880s quipped that the Missouri was “too thick to drink, too thin to plow.” It was flood-prone, full of snags and dangerous to cross.

Today’s Missouri River is nothing like that. Thanks to a series of dams constructed in the middle of the 20th century, the Mighty Mo is deep, blue and inviting. Dams at Pierre, Fort Thompson, Pickstown and Yankton have created four massive lakes, widely regarded as the Great Lakes of South Dakota.

Even if the Missouri wasn’t a recreational paradise — which it

is — it still would be one of South Dakota’s most popular destinations, thanks to the bustling fishing industry it has spawned. Walleye are king on the Missouri, but numerous other catchable fish species live here as well, including huge salmon and trout, which thrive in the deep water created by the dams.

With more than 400 miles of river and 3,000 miles of

shoreline within South Dakota alone, there’s plenty of room on the cool Missouri River for everyone who has an urge to camp, boat, swim or just enjoy a beautiful South Dakota sunset.

Beyond the river, westward travelers emerge into South Dakota’s West River region, vastly different from East River. The high plains, buttes and rolling terrain characteristic of the American West are abundant west of the Missouri, as are Western-themed tourist attractions.

Meriwether Lewis and William Clark spent the late summer and early fall of 1804 exploring present-day South Dakota. Their return trip in 1806 led them back through the area. The captain’s journal entries for this region describe lush vegetation and wildlife, not to mention unusual sights like barking squirrels, burning bluffs and immense herds of buffalo. The journals also tell of first-ever councils with the Sioux and Arikara tribes. Follow in the footsteps of the Corps of Discovery along the Missouri River. Walk where they walked, see what they saw, and feel what they felt as the sometimes wild and isolated trail is revealed.

Now, 200 years later, you too can experience the same rugged adventure along South Dakota’s Lewis and Clark Trail. For I-90 travelers, the best place to learn about Lewis and Clark and stand where they stood is the Lewis and Clark Interpretive Center along I-90 at Exit 264, Chamberlain. It affords breathtaking views of Lake Francis Case, a sprawling Missouri River reservoir.

When Clark stood on a bluff in 1804 looking out over what is now Chamberlain, he saw a sweeping panorama of river, bluffs, plains, sky and wildlife. “Vast herds of buffalo, deer, elk and antelopes were seen in every direction feeding on the hills and plains,” he wrote in his journal.

The Missouri River

•Scavenger’s Journey - June 23rd -25th

•End of Summer Bash - August 5th

•Echoes of the Past Entertainment - August 11th -12th

•Kimball’s Backyard Grill - August 12th

Al’s Oasis: Nestled along the Missouri River in Oacoma, Al’s Oasis has historically been the premier resting stop for travelers along I-90. Here at Al’s Oasis we offer bus tour groups, vacationing families, tourists, and lone travelers more than just great food, lodging and shopping. We offer them an escape from their travels. We still have our delicious 5¢ coffee, which always comes with a free smile. Al’s Oasis, still a family run business, prides itself on making a fun, convenient, and relaxing stop for you and your family.

Akta Lakota Museum and Cultural Center: One of the more unique museums in the state, on the campus of St. Joseph’s Indian School, opened in 1991. The words “Akta Lakota,” meaning “to honor the people,” were chosen because the museum is truly intended to honor and preserve the rich culture of the Lakota people.

On display is a fascinating array of Indian artifacts, artwork and educational items. Much of the museum’s original collection came from gifts given to St. Joseph’s by alumni and friends since the school opened in 1927. After the museum opened, it acquired many new pieces and continually strives to add relevant pieces to the collection. The museum also houses a Collector’s Gallery, which gives local artists a place to display and sell their work. The facility is more than a traditional museum; it is an experience that provides visitors with a living lesson on the Native American way of life, both past and present.

American Creek Campground: Enjoy spending time with family and friends as you relax along the shores of the Missouri River. Enjoy the scenic views, local wildlife, and spectacular sunsets over the bluffs. As you relax, enjoy water recreation activities and some of the best walleye fishing in the state. Do you have kids? They can enjoy our spacious playground and swimming at the beach. We offer all of the amenities to make your camping experience a success! Located off Interstate 90, Exits 263 or 265, nestled along the river’s edge, we are conveniently close to the local marina, restaurants, laundromat, gas station, and grocery stores for all of your shopping needs.

American Legion Memorial Bridge (Chamberlain Bridge): This historic bridge connects the towns of Chamberlain and Oacoma across the Missouri River and Lake Francis Case. The bridge was originally completed in September 1925, and was composed of four, 336-foot riveted Pennsylvania through truss spans laid end to end. It was built by the Missouri Valley Bridge & Iron Works of Leavenworth, Kansas, at an estimated cost of $303,623 and carried US Highway 16 over the Missouri River. In 1953, Lake Francis Case was created by the new Fort Randall Dam and the bridge became obsolete. The Wheeler Bridge, originally known as the Rosebud Bridge, also completed in 1925, was floated up the river 70 miles and the two bridges were joined to span the new lake. The bridge now carries the Business Loop of I-90.

The main path of I-90 crosses the lake on a modern bridge 1 mile (1.6 km) south of the Chamberlain Bridge and a railroad

bridge crosses about 300 yards (270 m) south of I-90.

The community was proud to have the bridge placed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1995. The bridge was completely overhauled during 2011-2012, and in June 2014 there was a bridge rededication.

Arrowwood Resort and Conference Center at Cedar Shore: A full-service resort accommodating your family getaway or providing a romantic setting for two. We offer spacious riverside rooms with a deck or balcony overlooking the Missouri River. If you never leave the outdoor deck, we understand.

Camp along the banks of the Missouri River and enjoy the scenic vistas and restful sounds of the river and wildlife. Awaken to a spectacular sunrise over the river and end your day with a South Dakota blazing sunset!

Stock up with all your bait, tackle, fishing licenses, on-the-water fuel, snacks and beverages at the floating convenience store on the Missouri River. If you don’t have a boat, we have experienced fishing guides to take you out for a fishing trip you won’t forget.

Akta Lakota Museum and Cultural Center Chamberlain Bridge

Dignity: Just off I-90 at the rest area between Exits 263 and 265, this is a sculpture on a bluff overlooking the Missouri River near Chamberlain, South Dakota. Norm and Eunabel McKie of Rapid City, South Dakota announced their gift of Dignity to the State of South Dakota in 2014, in honor of the 125th anniversary of South Dakota statehood. It was erected September 17, 2016, above the Missouri River at Chamberlain near Interstate 90.

The 50-foot high stainless steel statue by Dale Lamphere of Sturgis, SD depicts an Indigenous woman in Plains-style dress receiving a star quilt. According to Lamphere, the sculpture honors the culture of the Lakota and Dakota peoples who are indigenous to South Dakota. Lamphere sees the sculpture as a beacon of hope shining to all who pass or visit its location.

Lewis and Clark Interpretive Center: More than 200 years after Lewis and Clark marveled at that scenic beauty during their journey up the Missouri River, modern visitors are still marveling at what they see in Chamberlain. In fact, visitors to the Lewis and Clark Interpretive Center (at the Chamberlain rest area, I-90 Exit 264) can stand on a bluff overlooking the river and feel Clark’s observations come to life. It features interpretive panels and murals reconstructing the expedition journey. Take the scenic walk or view the Missouri River and the community of Chamberlain and Oacoma from a replica keelboat.

South Dakota Hall of Fame: This is a great place in South Dakota that honors the great faces that have made a significant impact on our culture and our state. The South Dakota Hall of Fame Museum is free to the public and offers experiences such as the Wells Fargo Theater and interactive computers. Visitors can enjoy displays of Native American artifacts, military memorabilia, and pioneer tools. At the museum, individuals can learn fascinating facts about famous and influential people from South Dakota, including: George McGovern – An American historian, author, U.S. Representative, U.S. Senator, and the Democratic Party presidential nominee in the 1972 presidential election. Terry Redlin – Gained worldwide acclaim for his beautiful artistic work portraying nature and American life. Tom Brokaw – Nationally recognized for his contributions to media and journalism. Joe Foss – A United States Marine Corps major fighting ace in World War II, an Air National Guard brigadier general, the 20th governor of SD, president of the NRA, the first commissioner of the American Football League, and a television broadcaster. Sitting Bull – The famous leader of the Hunkpapa Sioux tribe who was a man of vision, who was well-respected by all who knew him. Crazy Horse – Known as a brave and generous Sioux Indian warrior, he is honored at the Crazy Horse Memorial in the Black Hills of South Dakota.

Richdoc / Shutterstock.com

Dignity Statue

The original South Dakota Hall of Fame was an overcrowded log cabin in Fort Pierre started in 1974 to recognize the leaders of South Dakota who contributed to the development and heritage of the state. In 1976 it was named the Cowboy and Western Heritage Hall of Fame. In 1978 the first 120 individuals were inducted during the first annual Honors Ceremony. In 1992 it was relocated to Chamberlain. It wasn’t until 1996 that the South Dakota Hall of Fame was designated the official Hall of Fame for South Dakota through legislation. It operates as a non-profit, non-governmental organization. Each fall, an induction ceremony is held announcing up to 15 new members. Anyone may nominate an individual, living or deceased, for consideration. Each nominee must have lived in South Dakota for a portion of their life. The South Dakota Hall of Fame is located off I-90 at exit 263.

The Badlands: They don’t just call out to motorists. They don’t just loom on the horizon for miles. They appear suddenly and stunningly, surprising the traveler who isn’t prepared for such sweeping, stark beauty that comes seemingly out of nowhere.

Authorized as Badlands National Monument on March 4, 1929, it was not established until January 25, 1939. It was redesignated a national park on November 10, 1978. It protects 242,756 acres of an expanse of sharply eroded buttes, pinnacles and spires blended with undisturbed mixed grass prairie.

The Badlands Wilderness protects 64,144 acres of the park as a designated wilderness area where bison, bighorn sheep, coyotes, bobcats, deer, elk, rattlesnakes, porcupines, fox, black-billed magpies, prairie dogs, badgers, and the reintroduced black-footed ferret, the most endangered land mammal in North America, reside.

The South Unit, or the Stronghold Unit, is co-managed with the Oglala Lakota tribe and includes sites of 1890s Ghost Dances, a former United States Air Force bomb and gunnery range, and Red Shirt Table, the park’s highest point at 3,340 feet.

The Badlands annually host about 1 million visitors, most of whom enjoy the scenic drive through the park on the Badlands Loop. This loop – technically, it’s Highway 240, stretching from I-90 near Kadoka to another point on I-90 at Wall – offers an easy, hour-long tour of the Badlands, if no stops are made.

The park also has two campgrounds for overnight visits. Cedar Pass Campground located near the Ben Reifel Visitor Center, which offers a bookstore, special programs, and exhibits. The Sage Creek Campground is located on the west side of the park’s North Unit, near the Badlands Wilderness Area.

In the summer, the Badlands region is hot and dusty, with little shade and even less drinkable water. Although the automobile and smooth, paved roads have lessened the Badlands’ impact on traveling, the region can still seem inhospitable.

Nonetheless, there are few places so beautiful. The rugged beauty of the Badlands draws visitors from around the world. These striking geologic deposits contain one of the world’s

richest fossil beds. Ancient mammals such as the rhino, horse, and saber-toothed cat once roamed here.

The Minuteman Missile National Historic Site: Off I-90 at exit 116. During the Cold War, a vast arsenal of nuclear missiles were placed in the Great Plains. Hidden in plain sight for 30 years, 1,000 missiles were kept on constant alert; hundreds remain today. The Minuteman Missile remains an iconic weapon in the American nuclear arsenal. It holds the power to destroy civilization, but is meant as a nuclear deterrent to maintain peace and prevent war.

From 1963 until the early 1990s, the missile silo at Delta-09 contained a fully operational Minuteman Missile, bearing a 1.2 megaton nuclear warhead. The Delta-09 missile silo was one of 150 spread across western South Dakota. Visitors can tour the outdoor site on their own.

The National Park Service also offers tours of a Delta-01 Launch Control Facility. Advanced reservations through NPS are required for all guided tours.

Badlands National Park

THE FACES

The Black Hills take their name from the Sioux Indian phrase “Paha Sapa,” meaning “hills black.” From a distance, the Black Hills look exactly like that – dark, misty hills rising from the otherwise flat prairie.

Locals tend to divide the Black Hills into two areas: The Southern Hills and The Northern Hills.

The Southern Hills are home to Mount Rushmore National Memorial, Wind Cave National Park, Jewel Cave National Monument, Black Elk Peak (formerly Harney Peak), Custer State

Park (one of the largest in the US), the Crazy Horse Memorial (the largest sculpture in the world) and the Mammoth Site in Hot Springs, the world’s largest mammoth research facility. Attractions in the Northern Hills include Spearfish Canyon, Historic Deadwood and the Sturgis Motorcycle Rally, held each August.

Yet the greatest fun in South Dakota’s quiet mountain range happens off the beaten path. Within the Black Hills National Forest are 11 water reservoirs, 450 miles of hiking trails, dozens

of campgrounds and some 1,300 miles of clear, cold-water streams.

But the name “Hills” is misleading. Eighteen of the Black Hills’ peaks surpass 7,000 feet, including Black Elk Peak (formerly Harney Peak), which at 7,242 feet is the highest point in the United States east of the Rockies.

To truly enjoy and understand the Black Hills, visitors need to reach out and actually touch Paha Sapa, these “hills black” that have beckoned to travelers and adventure-seekers for centuries.

Rapid City is the second largest city in the state of South Dakota. Named after Rapid Creek, on which the city was established, it is set against the eastern slope of the Black Hills mountain range. Known as the “Gateway to the Black Hills” and the “City of Presidents,” it is split by a low mountain ridge that divides the western and eastern parts of the city. Ellsworth Air Force Base is located on the outskirts of the city. There is a thriving downtown, with scores of shops, restaurants and bars, and friendly people eager to welcome you. It’s a good place to plan day trips from.

Bear Country USA: For animal lovers, it doesn’t get much better. Bear Country is a unique, three mile drive-through wildlife park where visitors can see North American animals including bears, bison, elk, reindeer, and wolves. After you drive through, take a wildlife walk-around, where you can view park offspring, smaller animals and the playful antics of bear cubs.

Black Elk Peak: Formerly known as Harney Peak, at 7,242 feet, it is the highest point in South Dakota and the highest point east of the Rockies. In August 2016 the peak’s name was changed to honor Nicholas Black Elk, a Lakota Sioux medicine man, who was a second cousin of the war chief Crazy Horse and also once toured with Buffalo Bill’s Wild West Show. Don’t let the peak intimidate you, though. If you’re in decent shape, you can hike one of several trails to the top and enjoy one of the best views anywhere in the country.

Caves: There are many caves in the Black Hills to dazzle spelunkers for days, including Wind Cave, Jewel Cave, Rushmore Cave and Sitting Bull Caverns. Find one and enjoy!

Bear Country U.S.A

Cosmos Mystery Area: Take a tour designed to boggle the mind and show the awesome power of the Cosmos “force.” From people changing heights on level platforms to water flowing uphill, to sitting on the wall, the Cosmos is sure to amaze and astonish the mind.

Crazy Horse: It’s a work in progress and it is a work to behold. The massive carving will fill Thunderhead Mountain with a sculpture of Crazy Horse, the Lakota leader and warrior, on horseback, pointing out to his people’s lands. The memorial was commissioned by Henry Standing Bear, a Lakota elder, to be sculpted by Korczak Ziolkowski. The monument has been in progress since 1948 and is far from completion. In the years since Korczak Ziolkowski’s death in 1982, his family has continued the effort at the site between Custer and Hill City, 17 miles from Mount Rushmore.

Custer State Park: The park is South Dakota’s largest and first state park, dating back to 1897. It was named after the famed Civil War and Old West soldier Lt. Colonel George Armstrong Custer.

The area started as 16 separate sections, but was changed into one block of land because of the challenges of the terrain. The park grew rapidly in the 1920s, and during the 1930s the Civilian Conservation Corps built miles of roads, laid out parks and campgrounds, and built three dams that set up a future of water recreation at the park. In 1964 an additional

22,900 acres was added to the park.

The park covers an area of over 71,000 acres of hilly terrain and is home to many wild animals, including a famous herd of free-roaming bison, elk, coyotes, mule deer, white-tailed deer, mountain goats, prairie dogs, bighorn sheep, river otters, pronghorn antelope, cougars, and feral burros.

In 1965, the annual buffalo roundup and auction were begun. Held each September, the bison are rounded up, and several hundred are sold so that the remaining number of animals will be compatible with the available rangeland food.

Custer State Park bears visible scars from the 2017 fire that unleashed 100-foot high flames across 54,000 acres. But, if there’s any place that can recover quickly from such a furious fire, it is this park. That is the optimistic and science and history-supported prediction made by the South Dakota Game, Fish & Parks Department.

Crazy Horse memorial forcdan - stock.adobe.com

Bison at Custer State Park

Deadwood: Deadwood was born in the wake of the discovery of gold in the Black Hills during the 1874 Custer Expedition. It was packed with miners, opportunists, cutthroats, gamblers, prostitutes, pimps, bar owners and businessmen eager to have their own share of the gold. The town boomed for several years, but three massive fires and continued economic hard times slowed its growth by the end of the 1800s. By the mid-20th century it was a dusty, somewhat forgotten footnote in Western lore. Tourists stopped, but the town itself struggled to pay its bills and keep businesses and people.

In 1961, the entire town was declared a National Historic Landmark. It was the first time an entire community received this recognition.

In 1989, gambling was reintroduced and a new Deadwood was born. The town became filled with casinos and shops catering to tourists.

In 2004, the cable channel HBO began airing its award-winning series “Deadwood.” The show depicted what life might have been like during the early, rough-and-tumble days of the town. There is always something to do in Deadwood; not much has changed, it’s still a town wild at heart. Walk in the footsteps of legends at the historic attractions or belly-up to the buffet and enjoy a Wild West feast.

“Deadwood has been known the world round for over half a century. It is the smallest ‘metropolitan’ city in the world, with paving and public and other buildings such as are seldom found in cities less than several times its size.”

Hot Springs: A charming, historic town tucked away in the southwest corner of the state, just a short drive from Custer State Park. Experience one of the world’s greatest fossil treasures; tour the ancient sinkhole and stand on the edge of discovery at The Mammoth Site. See an active paleontological excavation of Ice Age animals. This 41,000 sq. ft. research center is recognized worldwide for its interpretation and exhibits. A must for families with hands-on exhibits. The following were added to the site in 2015: Learning Center; two 53-seat theaters; HD Introductory Video; Wireless TourGuide System; Exhibit/Gathering Area and Universally Accessible Walkways.

Deadwood

Keystone: Nestled in the beautiful Black Hills just a short distance from Mount Rushmore National Memorial, Keystone is an attraction in itself. Check out the Keystone History Museum and learn about the people who discovered gold in Battle Creek, located Keystone’s gold mines and founded the town.

Also learn the history of Gutzon Borglum, Peter Norbeck, C.C. Gideon, Carrie Ingalls, “Wild Horse” Harry Hardin and Sugar Babe. Walk down the main road and you’ll find the Rushmore Mountain Taffy Shop along with more handmade candy shops, Old-Time photos, ride a chairlift, play miniature golf, ride horseback, take a helicopter ride, pet cute little critters, ride a vintage passenger train, explore a cave and so much more.

Mount Rushmore National Memorial: It’s a national icon, a massive sculpture and the enduring image of South Dakota. The monument was carved into the granite face of a mountain in the Black Hills by master sculptor Gutzon Borglum, his son Lincoln Borglum and their team of brave, dedicated workers.

Work was launched in 1927 and continued until October 1941. Gutzon Borglum did not live to see it completed, nor did his vision of the four presidents depicted from head to waist come to fruition. Borglum did succeed in creating perhaps the most famous sculpture in American history.

The monument is dominated by the largest face, and the only one with parts of his chest and shoulders shown, George Washington (1732–1799); next to him is his fellow Virginian, Thomas Jefferson (1743–1826); with Theodore Roosevelt (1858–1919), who explored the Black Hills and loved the area, tucked in the middle. At the right edge is Abraham Lincoln (1809–1865). The memorial park covers about 1,278 acres. While there has been a lot of discussion of adding faces to Mount Rushmore, including Susan B. Anthony, John F. Kennedy and Ronald Reagan, officials insist no more faces will be placed on it due to the instability of the mountain.

Mount Rushmore

Parks and Lakes: There are national and state parks all throughout the Black Hills, each offering stunning beauty. For a great day with your family, just pick one and enjoy.

Reptile Gardens: Families will love Reptile Gardens, where hundreds of exotic-looking creatures can be safely viewed on a beautiful campus full of flowers and other vegetation. The botanical gardens are full of lush flowers and foliage from many regions of the world just waiting to be explored. The Guinness Book of World Records Reptile Gardens as being the World’s Largest Reptile Zoo, having more species and subspecies of reptiles than any other zoo or park in the world. Photo opportunities are abundant here!

Sturgis: Sturgis made its name by hosting a motorcycle rally each year at the beginning of August. The Sturgis Motorcycle Rally is one of the world’s oldest and largest motorcycle gatherings, offering incredible riding, exhibitors, motorcycle shows, demo rides, racing, concerts and more.

It began in 1938 by a group of Indian Motorcy cle riders and was originally held for stunts and races. Attendance has historically been around 500,000 people, reaching a high of over 700,000 in 2015.

The Sturgis Motorcycle Museum & Hall of Fame opened its doors on June 1, 2001. Local and national collectors loaned the Museum a selection of vintage and rare V-twin and metric motorcycles, offering visitors a glimpse into the magnificent world of two wheels. The Museum is open year round, seven days a week.

Find out why this international phenomenon draws motorcycle legends, superstars and hundreds of thousands of enthusiasts to the Black Hills each year and is listed as one of the 1,000 Places to See Before You Die. The 83th Sturgis Motorcycle Rally this year is scheduled for August 4-13!

Reptile Gardens

Spearfish Canyon: The canyon throngs with summertime pleasure drivers. Thousand-foot-high limestone palisades in shades of brown, pink and gray tower to the right and left of Highway 14A as it twists through the 19-mile gorge. Adventure abounds, surrounded by unmatched natural beauty. Spearfish offers something for everyone, old and young, both thrill seekers and those longing for a much-needed reprieve. The 22-mile journey begins at Exit 10 or Exit 14 off I-90 in Spearfish and connects to the mouth of the canyon at the Spearfish Canyon Country Club. From the other end, turn

at Cheyenne Crossing outside of Lead at the intersection of Highway 85. From there, travel 20 miles through some of the most breathtaking scenery you’ll find. Spearfish Creek lines the canyon floor, while canyon waterfalls make for popular roadside attractions. Bridal Veil Falls and Roughlock Falls are must-sees along the route. The speed limit is 35 miles per hour, but you’ll find so many drivers enthralled by the beauty, they drive even slower. Others simply pull over at one of the dozens of pull-offs along the way and get out to stretch their legs and capture the picture perfect moment.

HOW TO PLAY TRAVEL BINGO

Bridal Veil Falls, Spearfish Canyon

Watch out the windows as you travel I-90 and mark off what your see.

The first person to have 5 across, 5 in a row or 5 diagonal wins!