Landmarks in South Dakota: Exploring Iconic Sites

1. Landmarks in South Dakota: Exploring Iconic Sites South Dakota is full with amazing locations to visit and activities to see. From east to west, here is a list of the Great 8 Iconic Landmarks in South Dakota that should be on your list of places to visit. Mount Rushmore.  "Great Faces, Great Places" isn't just our state motto. Gutzom Borglum may have had no clue the influence his carving would have on not only the state, but the world, when he stood before the rugged slab of granite that became Mount Rushmore. Millions of tourists go to the Midwest each year to stare up at the stone faces of Presidents Washington, Je?erson, Roosevelt, and Lincoln. As you go down the Avenue of Flags toward Mount Rushmore, it's impossible not to feel the history of the entire monument. The incredible engineering required to create the monument is a fascinating topic that you can read about in the Sculptor's Studio self-guided tour. If you are in the neighborhood from mid-May to mid- September, it is well worth your time to visit in the evening to see the Evening Lighting Show.

2. Before you go, stop by Carver's Café for some refreshments or a hand-scooped ice cream cone! The Badlands.  As you drive down I-90 to your Rapid City hotel, you will notice some incredible natural structures towering from the prairie to your left. The South Dakota Badlands, which created over 75 million years ago, contain some of the world's finest fossil beds. Whether you're a photographer hoping to capture a famous Badlands sunrise or sunset, a family with children interested in nature, a hardcore mountain biker searching for a challenge, or a couple looking for a romantic cruise, Badlands National Park has it all. The Badlands are not a one-and-done destination, with two visitor centers, three lovely wildlife loops to drive, dozens of outdoor activities, a fossil preparation lab, camping, and plenty of species to find. The majority of the family-friendly activities and hands-on events last an hour, and any of the beautiful trips should take about three hours. Crazy Horse Memorial.  The beautiful profile of Chief Crazy Horse, rising 563 feet from the center of the Black Hills, flings a 29-foot finger toward Paha Sapa. The location was chosen by Lakota Chief Henry Standing Bear to memorialize his cousin Crazy Horse, and the project was led by sculptor Korczak Ziolkowski. Standing Bear aspired for a monument as majestic as Gutzom Borglum's Mount Rushmore to honor and memorialize his own people for all time. In 1948, Ziolkowski began carving, giving rise to what is now known as the Crazy Horse Memorial. Aside from the statue, you can browse the gift shop for local Native American art, eat some delicious Tatanka Stew at the Laughing Water Restaurant, explore the Indian Museum of North America and Native American Educational and Cultural Center, or participate in one of the many hands-on activities. Favorite Native American entertainers Brule are frequently featured, while hoop dancers, pottery makers, and many other Native American artists are often in residence. If you're in the neighborhood from mid-May to mid-September, don't miss the Crazy Horse Memorial's laser light show - it'll be the highlight of your trip! Historic Deadwood. Long before it was known for its gaming, Deadwood was known for its gunslingers and riches. Everyone has heard of Wild Bill Hickock and his lethal card game, and who hasn't heard of Poker Alice or Calamity Jane? Many of these renowned figures from the Midwest's wild history are buried at Mt. Moriah Cemetery (also known as Boot Hill). If cemeteries aren't your thing, don't despair! There are numerous activities available in the old mining town. A trolley ride along Main Street is always worthwhile, and you can scout out shops and casinos to visit while on your tour. Chubby Chipmunk, a local favorite chocolatier, makes renowned chocolates, and Pam's Purple Door is a gift shop boutique with a fascinating backstory - it was once a brothel. Don't miss out on all the delicious food in Deadwood. Depending on what you're looking for and where you go, you can find everything from a fast snack to a four-star

3. meal. If you're visiting in the summer, don't miss Deadwood's Trial of Jack McCall shootout, which takes place daily at 2 p.m. and 4 p.m. in Outlaw Square. Custer State Park.  Custer State Park, located in the heart of the gorgeous Black Hills, has nine campgrounds, one horse camp, Blue Bell Lodge, the Game Lodge, cabins, lakes, bu?alo, burros, and possibly a partridge in a pear tree. If you want to see everything, you should plan on staying for several days. Needles Highway, Iron Mountain Road, and The Wildlife Loop are the three most popular scenic drives. Switchbacks, pigtails, and various fauna can be expected - but don't get out of your car to pet the flu?y cows, as the bu?alo can be very dangerous! If you do decide to get out of your automobile, the options are nearly limitless: hiking, mountain biking, kayaking, fishing, and even snowshoeing in the winter! Jewel Cave.  Frank and Albert Michaud were exploring on their acreage in Custer, SD in 1900 when they discovered a small hole in the ground spewing blasts of frigid air. They returned with explosives and discovered a massive underground cavern coated in calcite crystals. The crystals glistened like diamonds in the light of their lights, and on Halloween of 1900, they filed the "Jewel Tunnel Lode" mining claim.The site changed ownership several times until being taken over by the National Park Service in 1933.Local interest in the cavern rose as park rangers continued to conduct tours of the little cave, and numerous cave explorers uncovered another 15 miles of passageways in the late 1960s. This discovery provided the cave with the necessary gravitas for further development, and Jewel Cave currently boasts a scenic area cave trail, an elevator, a Visitor Center, and ranger cabins. There are Historic Lantern Tours, Discovery Talks, and Scenic Tours o?ered. You can also book a Wild Caving Tour, but be warned: this is not for the faint of heart; be prepared for some rigorous caving. Check out the National Park Service's website for a list of Caving Do's and Don'ts. Wind Cave National Park.  Wind Cave National Park is unique in that it is the first to protect a cave. Since the 1890s, explorers and spelunkers have been trying to uncover the cave's conclusion, but no one has been successful. Wind Cave, located near Hot Springs, SD, has uncommon boxwork, frostwork, and cave popcorn formations that are not found in many other caves. It has a rich and varied history, both with Native Americans and with South Dakotans, and is regarded the world's longest and most complex cave system. There are various degrees of guided tours available, ranging from handicap accessible to expert spelunker, as well as hiking trails and interactive events. Learn more about the activities available at Wind Cave National Park. The Mammoth Site of Hot Springs

4. While leveling property for a house development in Hot Springs, South Dakota, a heavy machine operator made a "mammoth" discovery in 1974. The discovery of skull fragments, tusks, teeth, and numerous other bones from over six mammoths resulted in a nationally renowned excavation site for flora, fauna, amphibians, mammals, and more! The Mammoth Site is now a world-renowned research site and museum, with year-round hands-on family activities aimed at educating visitors about life on the Northern Great Plains during the Late Ice Age. What to know when you go: Call ahead for open tour hours; the Mammoth Site hours vary throughout the year because to the summer/winter tourism sector. Your drive from your Rapid City hotel takes about 50 minutes, and you can always stop in the middle to look for Fairburn agates or get a quick snack in Hermosa! You can also look at the Mammoth Site FAQ here.