Across the USA - Travelling South Dakota

Before I get too far into this post I must confess that since I had not yet started blogging when we took this trip my photos are a combination of pictures taken last year as well as some taken when we traveled through here three years ago.  Very little has changed except for the color of my hair (chuckle). 

When I left you on my last post we were in Wall, North Dakota, gateway to Badlands National Park and home of Wall Drugs.  

Wall Drug Store has an interesting history.  Founded during the infamous "Dust Bowl" years, the owner and pharmacist, Ed Hustead, and his wife came up with the idea of offering free ice water and a place to rest for weary travelers passing through.  The story, which is a must read on how this came about can be found Here.  Over the years Wall Drug has grown into a a favorite roadside attraction and beloved icon in South Dakota.  It's touristy and commercial and a must see if you are traveling through the area. 

The store still boasts a pharmacy as well as numerous gift stores teeming with books, wood carvings, leather works and Black Hills Gold jewelry. The Western Art Gallery Restaurant walls are covered with art and paintings by famous Western Artists.  They offer homemade donuts (yum!), a 5 cent cup of coffee and of course they still have free ice water.  The Investigator and I did some shopping and then shared a delicious hot roast beef sandwich before  returning to our hotel and settling in for the night

In the morning we headed for our next stop in Mitchell, South Dakota where we took a look at another piece of Americana, the Mitchell Corn Palace.  First built in 1892 to showcase South Dakota's agricultural heritage it is used as a venue for sports and local festivals.  We learned that every year a new theme is chosen.  All the decorations and murals are made from different kinds and colors of corn.  This year's theme was American Pride.

 

Even these little figures were made from corn husks. 

Local artists design and use 13 different kinds of naturally colored corn to make the signs and murals. It's amazing to think that all this is removed at the end of every summer and a new theme is chosen and pieced together in the fall.

Our last stop in South Dakota was in the beautiful city of Sioux Falls.  We found this lovely park that overlooked the city and took a walk along the river and the falls.

At one time this area had been a rock quarry.  These beautiful red stones were cut and shipped around the country to be used for buildings and roads.  All that changed around the early 1900's when concrete became the material of choice for building.  I think something was definitely lost when that happened .  This stone with its variations of color and texture is much more interesting than any cement creation I have ever seen.

It is time to leave the beautiful and amazing state of South Dakota behind.  Next stop will be the Mississippi River.  For now, I bid you adieu until next time.