South Dakota

South Dakota - 1994

I arrived in South Dakota on the third day of my trip, very late in the day and stayed the night in Sioux Falls. I got the impression from just the few hours I'd been in the state already that South Dakota is a very windy state. Of course, the prairie states, of which South Dakota is a member, are known for being windy. It was re-confirmed for me the next day, as I drove across the state to Rapid City. I will always remember this state, except for the obvious touristy parts of it, as being windy and as have lots of fields with very high crops in them. I am not sure what they were growing - wheat, corn, hay, oats - but it was just as tall as me and I am not a short person.

On my way to crossing the Missouri River, I went to the Corn Palace. The Corn Palace is in Mitchell, South Dakota, and is known because parts of its exterior are composed of various grasses, grains, and corns. Each year, the building is redecorated in a new theme. They must redecorate every year because the birds eat the building and there is nothing left.

After the river crossing and right before I arrived in Rapid City (more about that in a moment), I detoured through the Badlands. If you've ever seen the movie Thunderheart, then you have seen the Badlands. They/It are/is a very impressive and awe-inspiring site. Of course, I took plenty of pictures. The Badlands were formed, like the Grand Canyon, from hills which have been eroded, through time, by the elements. Mainly the wind. The erosion then reveals the different color stone underneath. This pictures don't really show that very well, but the different lines or striations in the stones are different colors.

Badlands

You can spend a lot of time in the Badlands on the windy road two-lane road that goes through there. I did walk around on some of the pathways that have been created in some of the areas. You can climb around on the rocks if that is what you want to do. Of course, people being people, they go beyond the barriers.

I stayed in Rapid City for two nights and visited several main attractions in the area:

Bear Country USA, the only place on the entire trip west I saw bears. You drive through this animal park which has bears, deer, bison, and other animals and you are not supposed to get out of your car at any time. Reminded me a lot of the Wild Animal Park in San Diego but you use your own car.
Mount Rushmore (go in the morning - it may be more crowded but the light is better for pictures)

Mt Rushmore
Mount Rushmore

Jewel Cave National Monument (a large group of underground caverns)
the Crazy Horse Monument (you can get a good picture of this work-in-progress from the road and, therefore, not have to pay the entrance fee)
Underground Falls, which has a mine with underground falls. The picture on the right, below, was taken outside the mine.
and Deadwood. That would be the picture on the left, below.

Deadwood Underground Falls

Deadwood is where Will Bill Hickok was killed - shot in the back while playing poker - and is buried. Calamity Jane is also buried here in Mount Moriah Cemetary. One can gamble in Deadwood if they so choose. Kevin Costner has a restaurant there, Jake's, named for a character he played in the movie Silverado and which he established while he was there making another movie, Dances With Wolves.

Mariah Cemetary
Mariah Cemetery, Deadwood, South Dakote