Top 10 Most Interesting Facts About South Dakota

1. State Motto: "Under God the People Rule."
2. State Bird: Ring-necked Pheasant.
3. State Flower: Pasque Flower.
4. Mount Rushmore was completed in 1941 and features the faces of four U.S. presidents.
5. South Dakota has one of the largest populations of free-roaming bison in the U.S. at Custer State Park.
6. Badlands National Park contains fossilized remains of ancient mammals like saber-toothed cats.
7. The Crazy Horse Memorial is the world’s largest mountain carving in progress.
8. Deadwood was a famous Wild West town, attracting figures like Wild Bill Hickok and Calamity Jane.
9. The Minuteman Missile National Historic Site preserves a key part of Cold War history.
10. The Mitchell Corn Palace is decorated each year with over 275,000 ears of corn.

Geography of South Dakota

South Dakota’s geography includes vast plains, rugged badlands, and forested mountains:

• Highest Point: Black Elk Peak (7,244 feet).
• Lowest Point: Big Sioux River (966 feet).
• Major Rivers: Missouri River, Cheyenne River, and Big Sioux River.

A Brief History of South Dakota

South Dakota has a rich history shaped by Native American heritage, westward expansion, and its role in U.S. history:

• South Dakota became the 40th state in the Union on November 2, 1889.
• The Black Hills are sacred to the Lakota Sioux, who continue to honor their cultural and spiritual ties to the region.
• Deadwood became a boomtown during the Black Hills Gold Rush in the late 19th century.
• Mount Rushmore was carved between 1927 and 1941 by Gutzon Borglum and his team.

Top 20 Things to Do in South Dakota

1. Visit Mount Rushmore National Memorial.
2. Explore Badlands National Park.
3. Drive through Custer State Park and see bison herds.
4. Visit Crazy Horse Memorial.
5. Tour Wind Cave National Park.
6. Walk through historic Deadwood.
7. Drive through Spearfish Canyon.
8. Hike in the Black Hills National Forest.
9. Tour the Minuteman Missile National Historic Site.
10. Relax at Palisades State Park.
11. See the falls in Sioux Falls.
12. Hike Bear Butte State Park.
13. Explore Jewel Cave National Monument.
14. Visit the Mitchell Corn Palace.
15. Admire the Dignity of Earth and Sky sculpture.
16. Tour the South Dakota State Capitol in Pierre.
17. Fish or boat on Lake Oahe.
18. Visit Laura Ingalls Wilder Historic Homes in De Smet.
19. Relax at Evans Plunge Mineral Springs.
20. Camp at Lewis and Clark Recreation Area.

Plan Your Visit

For more information about South Dakota, visit the state’s official tourism site: Travel South Dakota