A Palace of Corn
09 August 2010
What is Mitchell, South Dakota's premier tourist attraction? The World's Only Corn Palace.
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| "Through the Ages" Corn Palace 2010 |
Over half a million tourists visit the Corn Palace each year. The palace was constructed on Main Street nearly 120 years ago to prove that South Dakota was a great place for agriculture. At that time, Mitchell was a city of 3,000 people and had been incorporated only 12 years prior. Since that time, the palace building has been rebuilt twice, with the current, permanent and more purposeful structure's completion in 1921. It has received worldwide recognition and brings an audience each year to see its uniquely created murals, all of which are made of corn.
The Corn Palace is still considered to be one of the best basketball arenas for High School basketball in the upper Midwest. When it isn't hosting a game, the arena floor is the home of a large gift shop, where tourists can find everything from corn on the cob holders to fine jewelry.
The corn murals on the outside of the palace are removed at the end of August and the new facade is completed by the beginning of October. Designs are created according to that year's chosen theme, with thirteen different colors of naturally colored corn, grains, and native grasses, including red, brown, black, blue, white, orange, calico, yellow and green.
The World's Only Corn Palace of Mitchell, South Dakota is worth visiting. It is easy to get to from Interstate 90 and the best views are from the outside. If you do want to go inside, street parking is easy to find and admission is free.
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