Corn Palace, Mitchell, SD

Does not matter, what the ads say, but it is hardly worth to go to South Dakota to see that "world's only" Corn Palace. But if you happened to pass though Mitchell, SD, you should go to downtown and take a look at that wonder.

Actually, it is just a concrete building, which is used for all kinds of city events: meetings, basketball games, concerts. But the most important out of all of that - Harvest festival. Palace walls are covered mosaic pictures made with corn, grasses and grains of South Dakota and get redecorated every year with new crops.

The first Corn palace was built in 1892, when Mitchell was a a small, 12 years old city. And city fathers wanted to put it on the map. Another reason was to prove wrong Lewis and Clark words, that South Dakota is suitable only for buffalo, and no man could ever make a living farming here. So, for over a hundred years the festivities attracts thousands of tourists to a little place in the Eastern part of South Dakota.

I'd like to add, that right in front of the Palace, there is a Doll museum. We came to Mitchell too late, so we did not get to see it. But if you happened to be there - maybe you can tell us what it is?

Corn Palace at night. Some of the pictures on the walls are still waiting for the new harvest.

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Last updated: Tuesday, August 28, 2001