South Dakota Vacation Guide 2011 - (Page 230)
black hills, badlands & lakes region
I-90
(Continued from Page 229)
Palace.” It’s a stunning,
whimsical civic center, decorated
inside and out with
more than 2,000 bushels of
corn and forty tons of other
grains! Eleven different
shades of corn are used for
the designs, which change
every year.
Mitchell invented the
Corn Palace in 1892 to
brag about the fertile productivity
of the unsettled
Dakota prairie.
Visitors can enter a new
“Archeo-Dome” at the Prehistoric
Indian Village on
the shore of Lake
Mitchell.
It’s quite a sight when
you hit the Missouri River.
From east bank bluffs,
there’s an expansive view
of both the Great Plains,
and the Great Lakes of
South Dakota. We checked
... the western horizon is
9.3 miles away!
The Akta Lakota museum
on the campus of
St. Joseph’s Indian
School in Chamberlain is
the fi rst big collection of
Lakota Sioux artifacts
you will encounter.
There’s also contemporary
Indian art and a 36-foot
diorama.
Visit the new Lewis &
Clark Information Center.
It’s part of the interstate
Rest Area and welcome
center overlooking the
Missouri River at I-90 Exit
263.
Just across the Missouri
River Bridge, take
advantage of the 5 cent
coffee at Al’s Oasis, the
biggest watering hole
along I-90.
Just west of Murdo,
you switch to Mountain
Time, and gain an hour.
That gives you some “extra”
time to stop at a few
nearby attractions. Make
sure to visit the Pioneer
Auto Show and Antique
Town. Chances are, you’ll
also be personally welcomed
to South Dakota
by owner/collector Dave
Geisler. His museum has
a nostalgic display of more
than 200 antique and classic
cars.
Only 22 miles to the
west of Murdo, you can
explore more than 30 authentically
furnished pioneer
buildings at the 1880
Town, plus view memorabilia
from legendary bronc
buster Casey Tibbs, along
with other fascinating displays.
A prairie dog stands watch on
top of the mound of his underground
home. Prairie dogs are
common in the Badlands region.
230
Another 20 miles, and
you’ll start getting fi rst
glimpses of badlands formations
near the town of
Kadoka (Exits 150 and
152). Kadoka is home to
Badlands Petrifi ed Gardens,
an extensive exhibit
of fossils, petrifi ed wood
and minerals found in the
area.
Both Murdo and Kadoka
offer comfy accommodations
and some unique
A park ranger describes life in the Minuteman Missile Silo during the
Cold War period with a group of tourists.
Pine Ridge Reservation offers stunning Dakota scenery as well as opportunities
to explore Lakota culture and history.
hometown eateries – making
either town a suitable
base camp for those planning
to spend a day or more
exploring the area along
with nearby Badlands National
Park.
Exit 131 is where
westbound travelers exit
Interstate 90 to tour the
Badlands. You’ll fi nd two
interesting attractions
along Hwy. 240. Prairie
Homestead is one of very
few original sod houses
still remaining in the USA.
Because timber was so
scarce on the Great Plains,
settlers improvised walls
by stacking-up blocks of
sod they cut from the prairie.
Oddly, there’s also a
lesson about The Cold War
here — Minuteman Missile
National Historic Site.
Entering the National
Park’s east gate, the Badlands
Loop Road (SD 240)
wriggles down through Cedar
Pass to park headquarters.
The road is a State
Scenic Byway and rejoins
I-90 at Wall, Exit 110. All
along the route, expect
to fi nd scenic overlooks,
nature trails and wildlife
sightings.
You can experience a
different culture south of
the Badlands on the Pine
Ridge Indian Reservation,
where Oglala people celebrate
their music, dance
and social traditions in
numerous community powwows,
at which visitors are
always welcome. ■
Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of South Dakota Vacation Guide 2011
South Dakota Vacation Guide 2011
Contents
Overview
Getting Here, Getting Around
Information Centers
State Facts
Tourism Regions
Places of Interest
Public Campgrounds and Recreation Areas
Vacation Ideas
Southeast Region: A slice of South Dakota charm
Glacial Lakes & Prairies Region: Stories from the frontier
Great Lakes Region: Land of the mighty Missouri
Black Hills, Badlands & Lakes Region: Enchanting mountain getaway
Black Hills map
Index
South Dakota Vacation Guide 2011
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