Huge Things Actually Happened In These 7 Small Towns In South Dakota

The national monument is, of course, Mount Rushmore, which was constructed by Gutzon and Lincoln Borglum, and features the 60-foot-tall faces of George Washington, Theodore Roosevelt, Thomas Jefferson, and Abraham Lincoln. The project took 14 years to complete and cost a whopping $1M to build and still remains one of the greatest monuments in the country. 

While the world's largest music festival may sound a little rowdy (a la Burning Man or Woodstock), there is nothing to worry about here, as Lifelight is a free outdoor Christian music festival that attracts upwards of 350,000+ attendees each year.

Mitchell (one of the larger towns on our list, thanks to its population of nearly 16,000) is known worldwide for its aptly named Mitchell Corn Palace, a unique castle made of nearly 275,000 ears of corn! 

Nicknamed "Sue," FMNH PR 2081 was first uncovered by Sue Hendrickson on August 12, 1990, and can now be seen at the world-famous Field Museum in Chicago. 

The author we are referring to is, of course, Laura Ingalls Wilder, whose iconic "The Long Winter," "Little Town on the Prairie," and "These Happy Golden Years" were all set in the small town.

The next time you visit Pierre, be sure to visit the artifacts and records at the impressive South Dakota National Guard Museum. You can thank us later! 

Typically, Sturgis, South Dakota, houses approximately 7,000 residents; however, when it's rally time, the population can climb to 750,000+.