These 6 Unbelievable Ruins In South Dakota Will Transport You To The Past

It doesn't get any more ancient than the Hot Springs Mammoth Site. The world's largest mammoth site offers public tours, incredible views of an indoor dig site, and the opportunity to see larger-than-life fossils. If you love all things prehistoric, you cannot afford to miss this uniquely South Dakota museum!
Address: 800 US-18 Bypass, Hot Springs, SD 57747

This seemingly innocent spot plays a significant role in SoDak folklore. As the story goes, Devil's Gulch is the location of Jesse James' famous jump, where he and his horse supposedly cleared the large ravine and evaded law enforcement after robbing a nearby bank. Whether or not this happened is up for debate, but people still come from both near and far to visit this historic site.
Address: Garretson, SD 57030

You know Mitchell for its iconic corn palace, but did you know that it is also home to one of the last remaining archaeological sites in the state (not to mention the only archaeological site in the state that is open to the public)? Welcome to the Mitchell Prehistoric Indian Village, where you can not only learn more about South Dakota's first residents but get an up-close look at the excavation process of a 1,000+-year-old Native American village.
Address: 3200 Indian Village Road, Mitchell, SD 57301

Fort Pierre is not ancient but is still a historical site worth seeking out. Established to honor the relationship between Euro-Americans and American Indians, Fort Pierre was the site of the most vital trading company in the western U.S. It was eventually transformed into the first military fort in the Upper Missouri region. While no structures stand there today, you can still visit the land the fort sat on, which has turned up such treasures as old pottery, fabric, and coins.
Address: 348-350 Fort Chouteau Road, Fort Pierre, SD 57532

Spirit Mound is one of the coolest and most unexpected of ruins, as it is not your traditional decaying building or artifact but rather an unassuming hill near Vermillion. Described by ancient Omaha, Otoe, and Sioux tribes as an evil place where small, devil-like creatures dwelled, Spirit Mound was also a stop for the Lewis and Clark expedition. The explorers observed the area and searched for the devil-like creatures of which they had been warned. (Spoiler alert: They never found them.)
Address: 31148 SD-19, Vermillion, SD 57069

Are you up for a treasure hunt? Then it is time to dig out the metal detector and shovel and head out to Fort Thompson! Added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1966, the 6-mile-long Mounds are the site of buried c. 2450 BCE artifacts, including tools, pottery, and stones.
Address: Fort Thompson, SD 57339