We started our day in Mitchell, South Dakota – home of the one and only CORN PALACE. We didn’t know what to expect but we were really impressed. This building has been in Mitchell since the early 1900’s and it is used as a civic center. What makes it unusual is that each year the outside (and part of the inside) is decorated with corn. Each year an artist designs a new theme and sketches it on special paper on the outside of the building. Then the workers fill the sketch with corn. Most of it is full ears of corn cut in half lengthwise and nailed to the boards. I hope you can see from these pictures that it is really a work of art. Everything in the design is corn related (including use of shucks.) As we traveled on toward the badlands James found a new mode of transportation which he recommended we consider in the future (I admit that guy got a lot of STUFF on that motorcycle.) We stopped at a scenic overlook in Chamberlain, SD and learned that is where the Lewis and Clark expedition camped several nights during their trip westward and again on the return trip. From there we headed west across SD to the badlands. We were surprised at the sheer beauty of this area. I don’t know what I expected but I was pleasantly surprised. As you can tell from the pictures we saw deer and prairie dogs. There were 100’s of prairie dogs and they were not afraid of people. We didn’t get out of the car where they were but when we rolled down the windows we could hear them “barking.” You can also see the sign about other animals that are in that area. We were very careful about where we stepped. We made it to Hill City tonight just as the rain started. It dropped from 82 to 45! We are hoping it clears tomorrow.
Sunday, September 20, 2009
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