This museum was a real fantastic look into the life and culture of the Lakota Sioux Indians of…read moreSouth Dakota. The museum contains many interesting items and clothing of the Sioux. The beaded woman's dresses are worth the visit alone. One can also find an exhibit of children's moccasins. The museum could easily charge $5-10 for an entrance fee. The gift shop is an excellent place to shop for Indian Souvenirs and is well stocked with a lot of variety from arrows, to jewelry and more. I drove about 900 miles just for this museum and would recommend it to anyone interested in this Indian culture lifestyle.

Beautiful museum with tons of information. We could have spent much more time here than we had…read moretime for. No cost to get in but donations accepted. The quilts were some of the most beautiful I have ever seen. Would love to go back sometime. So much more to learn. The people who worked there went over and above to show us things we might not have otherwise seen and very friendly. June 26, 2025

This is an iconic Midwest American landmark, of sorts. I like this kind of thing. These are MURALS…read moremade of CORN on this building, people! Maybe it will not appeal to everyone though. There's not much to do here other than looking at murals made of corn (which definitely are impressive as far as that can go), and a video of the history of the place, which I found interesting. And of course a large, large variety of corn-themed souvenirs, and tons of popcorn-based snacks. Admission is free, usually; though there are events held here from time to time so check the schedule first.

A striking place, no doubt, but definitely more museum than activity centre if not there for an…read moreevent. Striking history and the series of photos over the years was mind-blowing.

Worth the stop if you're in Pierre! The South Dakota Capitol is small but elegant, with marble…read moredetails and a nice walking path around the grounds. Easy to see everything in under an hour.

My 44th State Capitol as I quest to visit all fifty of them…read morehttps://www.yelp.com/collection/ucwQvyGY8sZEDHaN49HU5Q/State-Capitols-I-have-been-to, it is also the fifth one this year. And it will be the last for now as I have no plans to get to Illinois, Missouri, Oregon, Washington, Alaska or Hawaii in 2022. Pierre (pronounced "peer") was founded in 1880 as a trading post and grew thanks to its location on the east bank of the Missouri River. It was selected as the state capital when South Dakota was admitted to the union as the 40th State in 1889, beating out other cities thanks to its central location in South Dakota. That said, it is absolutely not easy to get to as there are no interstates from any direction and not much else nearby. The building was constructed between 1905 and 1910 for a cost of about $1m. It is a beautiful structure outside and in, with terrazzo tile and a marble staircase. The rotunda is 96 feet high. There is street parking and plenty of monuments to see on the Capitol grounds. It is well worth your time if you're somehow passing through central South Dakota. [Review 17843 overall - 45 in South Dakota - 1364 of 2022.]

The World's Largest Pheasant is located here in Huron SD and if you're heading east from here, I…read moresuggest getting yourself a Pheasant Sandwich at one of the restaurants in Brookings SD. This pleasant is easily photographable and there's even a raised platform if you want the ideal selfie. Yes, this is 20 feet tall and 40 feet long. I don't know if it's the biggest bird but it is likely the biggest pheasant in the USA. I've not seen a larger one than this, so you can take it from me. Pheasants are within the family Phasianidae in the order Galliformes and they are found all over the world. Including here in South Dakota. [Review 17846 overall - 52 in South Dakota - 1367 of 2022.]

On the way out of Mount Rushmore and heading down towards Keystone, you'll find this historical…read moremarker installed by the State of South Dakota and in memory of the man who carved the start of the famous Mount Rushmore National Monument. And if you frame it right, you can get a picture of the monument with the historical marker, which reads: "His birthplace was Idaho. California first taught him art. Then France, who first gave him fame. England welcomed him. America called him home. His genius for the exquisite as for the colossal gave permanence on canvas, in bronze, in marble, to moods of beauty or passion, to figures of legend and history. Nations, cities, colleges paid him tribute. As a patriot he stripped corruption bare. As a statesman he toiled for equality in the rights of man. At last he carved a mountain for a monument. He made the monument chant: 'Remember! These giant souls set America free and kept her free. Hold fast your sacred heritage, Americans! Remember! Remember!' The first actual carving was begun in 1927. The Washington head was dedicated in 1931, representing the founding of our government; the Jefferson in 1936 for the man who made our first great expansion west with the Louisiana Purchase; Lincoln in 1937 for his preservation of the Union; the final head, Roosevelt, in 1939, for the completion of the Panama Canal. Borglum said, 'I want somewhere in America a memory of the great things we accomplished as a nation, placed so high it won't pay to pull it down for lesser purposes.' The project was nearly completed in 1941 when Borglum died. Mount Rushmore was completed by his son Lincoln with the final drilling done October 31, 1941." There are spots on both sides of the highway where you can stop, but watch the traffic if you decide to cross! UPDATE: This is Yelp hamsters at work. This was originally the Gutzon Borglum Historical Marker in Keystone, SD. So let's move it to Pierre, Yelp?

The SD Cultural Heritage Center is a wonderful facility. The museum exhibits are interesting. The…read morecurrent exhibit deals with the minuteman missiles which formed such an interesting part of state history. The museum has additional activities for the kids. The online presence of the CHC is also excellent. I particularly like the old pictures and postcards which have been scanned and placed online. Wonderful!

This marker points out a pair of locals who went on to the highest office in South Dakota and to…read morerepresent the state in Washington. It is located along Broadway where US Highway 14 passes through Miller. It reads, "Harlan J. Bushfield, born August 6, 1882 in Atlantic, Iowa, came to Miller in 1883. He earned his law degree from the University of Minnesota in 1904 and returned to Miller to practice law. In 1912, Bushfield married Vera Cahalan, a fellow Miller native." "The Bushfields were community leaders in Miller and both served on many boards. Harlan also served as Hand County State's Attorney and as state chairman of the South Dakota Republican Party." "Harlan was elected South Dakota Governor in 1938. He led the state through the beginning of World War II. He reduced state spending, cut sales and property taxes, and lobbied to end the state income tax. He promoted regional plans for Missouri River development, which led to the Pick-Sloan plan for dam construction." "In 1942, Harlan was elected to the U.S. Senate. He suffered a stroke and died in 1948 before the end of his term. Vera was appointed to her husband's seat, making her the second woman to represent South Dakota in Congress." "Harlan and Vera Bushfield were public servants who carried small town values from Miller, to Pierre, and onto Washington, D.C." [Review 17846 overall - 48 in South Dakota - 1367 of 2022.]

Along US-14, this marker points out an invisible line. The 100th Meridian, although an imaginary…read moreline on the surface of the earth, has long symbolized the end of the east and the beginning of the west. Major John Wesley Powell, an early western explorer and the second director of the United States Geological Survey, recognized the 100th Meridian as the natural demarcation line between the humid east and the arid west. "Historically that meridian is significant. For two generations the Insurance Companies and other worldwide lending agencies would not, as a matter of agreed policy, lend a shiny dime west of this line. There reason was that some geographer had labeled it the EAST EDGE of the Great American Desert. Neither the geographer nor the Insurance Companies had been west of 100°. Today, more that a quarter of America's new animal wealth alone, is produced from that misnamed desert. This unrealistic, geographically limited loan policy, forced South Dakota into the farm loan business. Our Rural Credit Business cost us plenty and was a splendid illustration of why a State should not be in the loaning business. But South Dakota has paid all its debts in full. The 100th Meridian is just another bad memory. Historically however, the 100° Meridian was a most important one in Western economy." The road does not have any extra space to pull over so use caution. [Review 17845 overall - 47 in South Dakota - 1366 of 2022.]

This marker is located in the parking lot of the Fort Pierre Depot Museum. As such, there is plenty…read moreof parking for you to stop and be able to read the sign. The museum was closed when I stopped by but it looks quite interesting if you're spending time here in Pierre. The marker reads, "The oldest continuous white settlement in the area of South Dakota." "First visited by Verendrye, who took over for France by planting a lead plate on March 31, 1743. A monument marks the spot. It is over the R.R. track first street to right, on hill to you left .6 miles." "Joseph LaFrombois started first fur post here in 1817 on west bank of Missouri just south of mouth of Bad river. Whites here since then." "Practically on same site, French Fur Co., Pierre D. Papin & Pascual Cerres had post Ft. Teton 1827 sold to Am. Fur Co., 1830. Bad River, then called Little Missouri was site where Father Hoecken on June 12-13, 1840 baptized 25 children, offspring of 13 traders and trappers, among them Dorion, Papin, Halsey, Campbell, Brazeau and Alleron." "All these things happened in limits of Ft. Pierre." [Review 17839 overall - 43 in South Dakota - 1360 of 2022.]