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The Corn Palace
A fitting attraction for the corn capital of the world
Category Outsider Art, Outsider Architecture
In 1892, South Dakota was begging for settlers. In order to showcase their magnificently rich soil, local officials commissioned the building of the Corn Palace in the middle of Mitchell, a town that bills itself as the "Corn Capital of the World."
The Corn Palace has been rebuilt several times since its initial construction, first as part of Mitchell's unsuccessful 1905 bid to replace Pierre as the state capital, and later to enhance its status as a tourist attraction. The distinctive Kremlin-esque onion domes and minarets were added in 1937.
Do not be misled: the Corn Palace is built out of concrete, not corn. However, each year, the entire exterior is redecorated in murals made out of corn and various other local grains and grasses. These decorative facades are redesigned annually around a different theme created by local artists. Decorations from years past are displayed inside the building itself.
Today the Corn Palace is used as a sports arena, music venue, and convention center. Each year a half-million humans--and even more squirrels--flock to marvel at the giant, corn covered citadel.
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- Hours 8:00 am - 5:00 pm, daily. Closed off-season weekends
- Website The Corn Palace
- Address 601 North Main Street, Mitchell, South Dakota, United States
- Cost Free
Comments
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about twenty minutes after i left here, there was a tornado! it was wild. we could see it for miles, and having never been that far west, thought it was a lot closer. pretty scary, and exhilarating!
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That must be quite the site to see all the artwork made from materials grown in the fields. How long does it take for the place to get redecorated.
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Anonymous
October 14, 2009
try
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