7 Of The Quirkiest Towns In South Dakota
The most popular landmark in South Dakota is unmistakably Mount Rushmore, to the point where entire communities and towns are formed around it. While the state's pride and joy might be this presidential sculpture, there are plenty of things to do and places to visit outside of it. People traveling around the state will find towns and communities, both big and small, full of life, expression, and fun. Places like the Black Hills have quirky townships like Keystone or Hill City, which have dedicated museums and mines to explore, while other locations in South Dakota, like Vermillion, have a yearly Shakespeare festival that puts on plays over the course of several days. These towns have much to offer, regardless of their size or fame.
Spearfish
In Lawrence County is a town called Spearfish, which offers visitors plenty of nature and art opportunities. Scenic locations like the Spearfish Canyon Scenic Byway offer a sense of adventure from the comfort of a car, with a self-guided tour going through nine points of interest throughout, like Split Rock, Spearfish Falls, Victoria's Tower, and more! The town is about an hour from Mount Rushmore, one of the most iconic landmarks in the United States. Plenty of artsy spots are in town, like Dolls At Home, which is both a museum and gift shop for vintage dolls and hand-painted dioramas or the Termesphere Gallery by Dick Termes, which showcases his signature paints on spheres that hang from the ceiling, each with a different story to tell and world to show. Meanwhile, The Clubhouse of Spearfish has a collection of indoor simulation games like golf, soccer, baseball, and more alongside a bar and restaurant. Some people plan ahead before their trip to Spearfish, and others don't, as it can be more fun discovering all of the natural and created beauty in the area.
Deadwood
The town of Deadwood got its name because of the dead trees found in the area in which it was established. While that may make it sound dreary, Deadwood is anything but dead. It started as a mining town in the 19th century before the whole town was designated as a National Historic Landmark in 1961. Deadwood tried to stimulate growth and tourism in the same decade by opening casinos. This move would lead famous actor Kevin Costner to open The Midnight Star in 1991, but it was eventually closed down in the late 2010s. The town is still home to several gambling spots like Bodega and Deadwood Mountain Grand Casino, showing that the activity is quite popular today. Lakes made during the gold rush, like Sheridan Lake, let people fish and swim during the summer while hiking and biking trails like the Seth Bullock Grave Loop and Mount Moriah Cemetery Loop are open year-round.
Vermillion
Vermillion gets its name from the nearby river of the same name. The Vermillion River is a tributary of the Missouri River, and the site where the town sits was once a camping ground for historic explorers Lewis and Clark in the early 1800s. Vermillion is home to the National Music Museum, which is located at the University of South Dakota. This 1973 museum contains over 15,000 musical instruments from various cultures and periods, from celebrity guitars to violins and harps. Near the campus is the W.H. Over Museum, with local exhibits like a fully realized Lakota Family Camp, using genuine 20th-century artifacts, including a canvas teepee and bison hides. Vermillion hosts an annual festival devoted to the works of William Shakespeare, rightfully called the South Dakota Shakespeare Festival. The celebration is held over several days in Prentis Park, with famous plays like Othello, Macbeth, and The Comedy of Errors, among others. The town has nine parks in total, including Cotton, Lions, and Barstow Park, which all offer greenery and fine walks throughout Vermillion.
Mitchell
The development of Mitchell can be attributed to the railroads coming through the midwest during the 19th century, to the point where it was named after a railroad president called Alexander Mitchell around the same time. The town's claim to fame is its agriculture, with an entire building labeled the Corn Palace serving as a tourist attraction. The "World's Only Corn Palace," as Mitchell's website calls it, features murals made of dried corn and grains, with the art itself changing during the harvest season every year, keeping the creativity fresh and alive. The building features an auditorium that has been used for proms, basketball games, and much more. Also in Mitchell is the Dakota Discovery Museum, which seeks to tell the story of the northern Plains in North America and the people who inhabited the area through a collection of traditional art and artifacts. The Museum is open to both kids and adults seeking to learn a thing or two about previous tribes that settled in the area. Around town are around 16 miles of bike trails, including Firesteel, Sandy Beach, Spillway, and West Launch, among others.
Hill City
Hill City is commonly known as the "Heart of the Hills" because of its relation to tourists in the area, along with its positioning in the Black Hills, being near the geographical center. The most well-known gallery in town is known as the Warrior's Work & Ben West, which started as a collection of art dedicated to Native Americans. It has since grown into sculptures, paintings, and artifacts about wildlife and motorcycles alongside the Native American art that started it all. They also make wearable art in the form of leather jackets for both men and women. Located next to the Black Hills Central Railroad's depot is the South Dakota State Railroad Museum, showing off history through interactive exhibits and model trains that run throughout. These exhibits go through significant points in the area's rail history from 1872 up until today. Trails like the George S. Mickelson are a must-see and are accessible by foot, bike, snowshoe, skis, or even horseback. The trail runs straight through town, right next to the main street, giving people easy access to the beautiful forests of Black Hills.
Keystone
While small and quaint, the Black Hills town of Keystone is well known for its year-round outdoor endeavors. Mount Rushmore is less than ten minutes from the town, making it a premiere spot for tourists. Rushmore Tramway Adventures is a spot to climb, zipline, and slide through the forests of Black Hills, while the Big Thunder Gold Mine is a genuine historic site where people would pan and mine for gold in the 19th century. Tours are offered, and both kids and adults can have the opportunity to pan for their own treasure! Anyone who loves quirky sculptures should visit Dahl's Chainsaw Art, right in town, run by the Dahl brothers. They've both created many different pieces, like Viking warriors, lighthouses, rabbits, bigfoot, dogs, archways, and so much more. Another unique art place in Keystone is the National Presidential Wax Museum, which makes sense because it's only a few minutes away from Mount Rushmore. Over 100 wax figures are on display, covering every United States President from old to new while putting them in period-correct displays.
Watertown
Watertown is home to the Redlin Art Center, which contains over a hundred different paintings from wildlife and nature artist Terry Redlin, whose work was inspired by the nearby lakes of Pelican and Kampeska. Entry to the center is free, and video presentations about him are also shown regularly. To help drive local business and tourism, Watertown started handing out annual awards known as the "Great 8", which promotes and brings attention to these businesses and landmarks, like the Goss Opera House, for providing monthly entertainment for residents and visitors. The Bramble Park Zoo is located in town, with several hundred animals on display, including Emus, Bald eagles, Gray Wolves, Chinchillas, and many more, including fish and reptiles. Local groups or businesses can sponsor the zoo, with donators "adopting" animals held there while having their name displayed at the front of the park. Next to the zoo is a walking trail that runs along the Big Sioux River, called the Bramble Park Trail, which is connected to the Jack & Esther McLaughlin Wildlife Sanctuary.
South Dakota has much to offer outside of the typical Mount Rushmore visit, from its many museums to monuments. These welcoming townships are more than enough for anyone to get a feel of quirky small-town life and atmosphere while being near some great locales in the Black Hills.
