South Dakota is sparsely populated and often overlooked as a
holiday destination in the USA, and visitors won't find flashy
attractions or nightlife. Instead, the state enjoys a hauntingly
beautiful landscape of vast prairies, broken granite hills, and
echoing caverns.
Attractions in South Dakota include the famous tyrannosaurus rex
called Sue, unearthed in the bewitching Badlands. The iconic stone
faces of Mount Rushmore are instantly recognisable while the city
of De Smet was influential in shaping the stories of Laura Ingalls
Wilder, author of children's literature classics such as Little
House on The Prairie. The city of Deadwood is also the location of
gunman Wild Bill Hickok's fatal poker game.
Long being the home of the Sioux nation, the inhabitants of this
harsh land followed great buffalo herds across the plains. In the
1800s, settlers seeking riches flocked to South Dakota and
skirmishes between the Native Americans and US soldiers quickly
followed.
The infamous Wounded Knee Massacre was one of the last
conflicts. It was here that US soldiers slaughtered a large group
of Sioux, including women and children. Today, visitors can pay
homage at a small memorial at the site.
The Sioux remain a large part of the population of South Dakota,
their culture continuing to permeate and enrich the land. The Black
Hills form a solitary range of mountains covered with pine trees,
dramatically rising from the plains and considered sacred by the
Sioux.
The rolling prairies, meandering rivers, and staggering peaks of
South Dakota create a landscape naturally groomed for the classic
American road trip. It makes for some of the most beautiful scenery
in the country and is a must-see on any American journey.