South Dakota's Landmarks: A Journey Through History and Nature

Explore the rich tapestry of South Dakota's landmarks in this comprehensive document. From the iconic faces of Mount Rushmore to the ongoing legacy of the Crazy Horse Memorial, delve into the stories and significance behind each landmark. Uncover the geological wonders of Badlands National Park, venture into the depths of Wind Cave, and discover the historical treasures of Deadwood. This document is your guide to the cultural, historical, and natural landmarks that make South Dakota a captivating destination where history truly comes alive.

1. There are a ton of incredible sights and places to visit in landmark in south dakota . The
Great 8 Iconic Landmarks in South Dakota should be marked on your travel map, listed from
east to west.
Mount Rushmore.
Our state motto, "Great Faces, Great Places," is not without purpose.
It's likely that Gutzom Borglum had no idea the impact his carving would have on the world at 
large when he stood before the craggy granite piece he finally decided t o make into Mount Ru
shmore.
Millions travel to the Midwest each year to see the stone likenesses of Presidents Lincoln, Ro
osevelt, Washington, and Jeff erson.
The 8 Greats - Iconic Landmarks of
South Dakota for Your Travel Map!

2. As you walk along the Avenue of Flags toward Mount Rushmore, it's hard to avoid feeling the 
weight of the monument's history. The self-guided Sculptor's Studio tour allows you to travel
through time and learn about the incredible engineering that went into creating the
monument. It is well worth the eff ort to schedule your visit for the evening in order to see the
Evening Lighting Show if you are in the area from mid-May through mid-September. Make sure
to stop by Carver's Café for some snacks or a hand-scooped ice cream cone before you leave!
The Badlands.
Off to your left, you'll start to notice some incredible natural formations rising from the
prairie as you travel down I-90 to your Rapid City hotel. Having formed over 75 million years
ago, the Badlands of South Dakota are home to some of the world's richest fossil deposits.
Badlands National Park has everything you could possibly want, whether you're a
photographer hoping to capture the iconic Badlands sunrise or sunset, a family with young
children interested in all things natural, an avid mountain biker seeking a challenge, or a
couple taking a romantic cruise. Numerous outdoor activities, a fossil preparation lab, two
visitor centers, three stunning wildlife loops for driving, camping, and an abundance of
wildlife to discover, The Badlands are a continuous experience. The majority of the interactive
and family-friendly events last an hour, and any of the beautiful drives should take you
around three hours.
Crazy Horse Memorial.
Standing 563 feet tall in the center of the Black Hills, Chief Crazy Horse's majestic profile
reaches 29 feet out to gesture toward Paha Sapa. Lakota Chief Henry Standing Bear
appointed sculptor Korczak Ziolkowski as project manager and chose the site as a tribute to
his cousin Crazy Horse. Standing Bear hoped that his own people would be forever honored
and remembered with a monument as magnificen t as Gutzom Borglum's Mount Rushmore.
When Ziolkowski started carving in 1948, the Crazy Horse Memorial as it is known today was
created. In addition to seeing the statue, you can get some delectable Tatanka Stew from the
Laughing Water Restaurant, peruse the gift shop for regional Native American artwork,
Explore the Native American Educational and Cultural Center and the Indian Museum of
North America, or participate in one of the many interactive exhibits.
Historic Deadwood.
Deadwood was well-known for its gunslingers and its gold long before it was for gambling.
Who hasn't heard the well-known tale of Wild Bill Hickock and his lethal card game? Who
hasn't heard of Poker Alice or Calamity Jane? Many of these well-known individuals who
played major roles in the turbulent history of the Midwest can be found in their final r esting
places at Boot Hill, also known as Mt. Moriah Cemetery.) Do not be alarmed if cemeteries are
not your thing! The historic mining town offers a plethora of activities. It's always worthwhile
to take a trolley ride up Main Street to see the stores and casinos that you can visit during
your tour.

3. Custer State Park.
Encompassing over 71,000 acres in the center of the beautiful Black Hills, Custer State Park
offers nine campgrounds, one horse camp, Blue Bell Lodge, the Game Lodge, cabins, lakes,
buffalo, burros, and likely a partridge in a pear tree. If you want to catch everything available,
you should plan to stay for several days. The three most popular scenic drives are through
Needles Highway, Iron Mountain Road, and The Wildlife Loop.
Jewel Cave.
While prospecting on their land in Custer, South Dakota, in 1900, brothers Frank and Albert
Michaud discovered a small hole in the ground that was releasing blasts of cold air. When
they went back with dynamite to blow out the hole, they found a huge cavern below ground
filled with crystals of calcite. Under the lamps' light, the crystals gleamed like jewels, and on
Halloween of 1900, they filed a mining claim f or the "Jewel Tunnel Lode."The land was
transferred several times before the National Park Service assumed responsibility for its
upkeep in 1933.Local interest in the cavern increased as park rangers continued to lead tours
of the small cave; in the late 1960s, a few cave explorers found an additional fif teen miles of
passageways.
Wind Cave National Park.
Being the first na tional park to safeguard a cave, Wind Cave is truly unique. Explorators and
spelunkers have been searching for the cave's end since the 1890s, but nobody has been
successful in doing so. Wind Cave, which is in Hot Springs, South Dakota, is home to unique
boxwork, frostwork, and popcorn formations that are uncommon in most other caves. It is
regarded as the world's longest and most intricate cave system and has a rich and varied
history involving both Native Americans and homesteaders from South Dakota. Hiking trails,
expert spelunking, handicap accessible tours, and interactive events are all available at
different levels. Find out more about Wind Cave National Park's activities here.
The Mammoth Site of Hot Springs
Being the first na tional park to safeguard a cave, Wind Cave is truly unique. Explorators and
spelunkers have been searching for the cave's end since the 1890s, but nobody has been
successful in doing so. Wind Cave, which is in Hot Springs, South Dakota, is home to unique
boxwork, frostwork, and popcorn formations that are uncommon in most other caves. It is
regarded as the world's longest and most intricate cave system and has a rich and varied
history involving both Native Americans and homesteaders from South Dakota. Hiking trails,
expert spelunking, handicap accessible tours, and interactive events are all available at
different levels. Find out more about Wind Cave National Park's activities here.
What to know when you go:

4. The Mammoth Site hours vary throughout the year due to the summer/winter tourism
industry, so be sure to call ahead for open tour hours. It's only about a 50-minute drive from
your Rapid City hotel, and you can always stop in Hermosa for a quick snack or to look for
Fairburn agates! Here is a link to the Mammoth Site FAQ.