Overview |
South Dakota has several claims to fame, including 'Sue', the
world famous T-rex unearthed in the bewitching Badlands; the four
massive stone faces of Mount Rushmore; DeSmet, the old stomping
grounds of Laura Ingalls Wilder; and Wild Bill Hickok's final, and
fatal, poker game in Deadwood, now the setting of the hit
television series.
Yet the state is often overlooked as a holiday destination. True,
it is rather sparsely populated. Its largest city, Sioux Falls, has
a population of just 141,000. Visitors won't find flashy
attractions or nonstop nightlife. But the hauntingly beautiful
landscape, ranging from vast high prairies to broken granite hills
to echoing caverns, will leave a lasting impression.
This sometimes harsh land has long been the home of the Sioux
nation, Native Americans who followed the buffalo herds across the
plains. In the 1800s, settlers seeking riches flocked to South
Dakota, and skirmishes between the Indians and US soldiers quickly
followed. One of the last conflicts was at Wounded Knee, where a
large group of Sioux, including women and children, were massacred.
Today, visitors can pay homage at a small memorial at the site. The
Sioux remain a large part of the population of South Dakota, and
their culture continues to provide enriching experiences. The Black
Hills, a solitary range of ponderosa pine-covered mountains rising
dramatically from the plains, are considered sacred by the
Sioux.
A landscape naturally groomed for the classic American road trip,
the rolling prairies, meandering rivers and staggering peaks of
South Dakota make for some of the most beautiful scenery in the
country and is a must-see on any American journey.