Native Culture in Chamberlain & Oacoma
Another 70 miles west down I-90 from Mitchell are the twin towns of Chamberlain and Oacoma, which are separated by the Missouri River. There, groups will find an excellent educational opportunity at the Akta Lakota Museum.
Located on the campus of St. Joseph Indian School, the museum takes its name from the Sioux word that means “the honor of the people.” It honors the Lakota Sioux with various displays ranging from full-size tepees and traditional dress to modern Native American artwork.
The museum features various items that give insight into Lakota culture, like a ghost dance shirt and a star quilt, which is a traditional gift given to celebrate weddings, births and deaths. Visitors will also find a minitheater and a gift shop where they can buy beautiful handmade Lakota art.
While you’re there: Visitors traveling either direction on I-90 through South Dakota will see numerous billboards promoting Al’s Oasis, a visitor complex in Oacoma that features a restaurant that specializes in buffalo burgers and 5-cent coffee, as well as a number of gift shops.
The Dramatic Canyon Beauty of the Badlands
Continuing west, the topography around I-90 changes significantly in the 150 miles between Chamberlain and Badlands National Park, one of the best places in South Dakota to discover stunning natural scenery.
The Badlands is one of the most surreal landscapes in North America. The 244,000-acre park protects large swaths of prairie that are abruptly cut through with deep, rocky canyons. Each canyon wall is striped with layered shades of pink sandstone, and moonlike rock formations rise up from the surface to create vivid scenery.
Groups can explore the Badlands easily by taking a drive along the park’s scenic loop. There are more exciting ways to get to know the area as well, including hiking the park’s extensive trails, riding horseback through the canyons and going on ranger-led tours that highlight the park’s rich geology and fossils.
While you’re there: Located on the western edge of the Badlands, Wall Drug Store has been welcoming guests with free ice water and assorted other treats since 1931. Today, the attraction includes a restaurant, a prized collection of Western art and a massive retail emporium.
Mountain Monuments in Rapid City & the Black Hills
Arriving in the western end of the state, visitors find in the Black Hills a great reward for their journey across South Dakota. The area is legendary for its gorgeous mountain scenery, as well as a pair of iconic memorials.
From their home base in Rapid City, groups can set out on a short drive to Mount Rushmore National Memorial, which famously features the faces of four American presidents carved in granite. In addition to admiring the monument, visitors can look through an on-site museum and hike a short trail down to the sculptor’s workshop at the foot of the mountain.
About 15 miles away, Crazy Horse Memorial is another mountain carving that pays homage to the most famous Native American leader in South Dakota history. Carving continues at the site, which is privately funded, and is expected to take many more years to finish. But groups that visit today can see the relief of Crazy Horse’s face in the mountain, learn about the carving process and explore the complex’s museum and Native American art market.
While you’re there: Downtown Rapid City buzzes with its own activities that will appeal to groups. Main Street Square is a new public space that features special events, concerts and interactive fountains The downtown area also features life-size bronze statues depicting each U.S. president.
