The last of over 400 carvers responsible for one of America's most treasured monuments, Mount Rushmore, passed away in 2019. The feat of etching the presidents' faces into stone took 14 years to complete. Even as the granite monument slowly succumbs to erosion, the shadows of the former presidents will live on for at least two and a half million years before they begin to lose their most defining features.
The elements shape our world - wind, water, and weather working together over hundreds of millions of years to create masterpieces outside the scope of human ability. South Dakota is heavy on natural beauty, its unique landscapes resonating with visitors who like to think about the bigger picture. This mix of natural and human-made attractions in South Dakota proves the state has struck a nice balance between honoring nature and the wants of the people who come to admire it.
9 Badlands National Park
Badlands National Park tells the story of the planet's evolution on a grand scale. Colorfully layered rock formations demarcate epochs of history. Vast seas of towering spires and buttes contain fossils of animals that no longer exist, like the Nimravid, which would have resembled a saber-toothed cat.
Today, the park is home to towns of prairie dogs who poke their heads in and out of intricate tunnel systems dug from the earth, delighting children and adults alike. Bighorn sheep traverse fields of tall grasses dotted in wildflowers and make their way up and over rock formations with enviable ease. The sun beats hot on day visitors, who often return at night to enjoy the impressive star show offered by the unpolluted natural landscape.
8 The World's Only Corn Palace
Although Iowa is the U.S's top corn-producing state, Mitchell, South Dakota, is the home of the World's Only Corn Palace. The oddity attracts half a million visitors per year, many of whom have no idea what the heck even goes on in the crop-based kingdom. The mascot, a personified ear of corn called Cornelius, greets guests with his million-dollar smile.
The palace serves as a venue for various functions, including fall festivals, sporting events, and even weddings. Every year, local student artists use a dozen different colored corn kernels to create gorgeous murals. Wild grasses and grains decorate the space of the agricultural wonder, making the World's Only Corn Palace a must-see for avid folk art lovers or anyone impressed by human creativity.
7 Reptile Gardens
There are several species of reptiles native to South Dakota, including snakes, turtles, and lizards. However, guests to the Reptile Gardens in Rapid City are in for a treat. Named the largest reptile zoo by the 2018 Guinness Book of World Records, the gardens house a variety of critters from around the world.
Guests can meet Orville, Tank, and Samson, a trio of gentle, giant Aldabra tortoises. One of the few remaining saltwater crocodiles, a 16-foot long guy named Maniac, lives a cushy life in a beautifully crafted enclosure intended to keep him and marveling onlookers safe. The three-story Sky Dome features tropical plants, creepy crawlers, rare and deadly reptiles and amphibians, and a few free-roaming friendly frogs and lizards.
6 Wind Cave National Park
Recent exploration puts Wind Cave in seventh place as the longest cave in the world at just under 155 miles, though there are still undiscovered passageways that may one day change its rank. The cave accounts for almost all of the world's boxwork formations, blades of calcite that intersect to form unusual honeycomb patterns.
Visitors can spend an entire day exploring the underground marvel and stick around for another day to see the park's above-ground beauty. Wind Cave National Park contains one of the largest surviving mixed-grass prairies in the country. Several trails take hikers through the park, where they will be blessed with gratifying views of South Dakota's historic and beautiful Black Hills.
5 Porter Sculpture Park
Fifty phenomenal sculptures sit on 18 acres of prairie land only a quarter-mile off the highway in Montrose at the Porter Sculpture Park. A single man named Wayne Porter is responsible for every sculpture. The entirely self-taught artist transported his creations to a perfect outdoor gallery, and it's not uncommon for guests to meet the man behind it all.
Vibrantly colorful renderings of butterflies and flowers pop against the natural background, while the famous 60-foot bullhead and skeleton of a human-sheep hybrid create a more somber tone. The one-of-a-kind sculpture park marketed as "art you can touch" has garnered national recognition as a top roadside attraction.
4 The National Presidential Wax Museum
The National Presidential Wax Museum in Keystone offers visitors another medium of art to enjoy. A colonial-style building welcomes guests to explore life-sized replicas of U.S presidents during pivotal moments of American history. A melancholic George Bush puts his hand on the shoulder of a firefighter following the September 11th attack on the World Trade Center. Other exhibits include flag seamstress Betsy Ross presenting her creation to George Washington alongside his wife, Martha, and the famous drafting of the Declaration of Independence.
3 Wildlife Loop Road
Wildlife Loop Road is an 18-mile scenic drive through Custer State Park in Hermosa. The vast, open grasslands loop promises visitors close encounters with the animals that call the park home. Bison freely roam the open road, causing the most enjoyable kind of traffic jam.
Deer, antelope, and mountain goats are some of the other animals sighted by guests, and each season provides a different experience. Though summertime is most popular, spring means babies, and the higher scarcity of food during winter comes with the perk of more easily spotted wildlife.
2 Black Elk Peak
A trek to the summit of Black Elk Peak will give hungry eyes the most expansive sight of South Dakota's Black Hills. It is the highest natural point in the state at 7,242 feet, offering views of four states from a historic lookout tower once used to detect wildfires. The spot of American history is not to be outshined by the first settlers of the area, the Lakota Sioux. The site, formerly known as Harney Peak, was renamed in 2016 to honor the renowned medicine man, Heȟáka Sápa (Black Elk), who had his "Great Vision" on the summit.
1 1880 Town
1880 town in Midland allows people to experience what life might have been like during the nineteenth century. Over 30 historical structures are authentically furnished and filled with relics from the olden days. To truly sink into the space, guests can don historically accurate costumes while they explore. Main attractions include props from the award-winning film, Dances With Wolves, live rope trick and comedy shows, and a train diner decorated with 1950s memorabilia that serves homemade cream pies.