25 Things Every South Dakotan Should Do

How ‘South Dakotan’ are you? Take our test!

OUR WRITERS and photographers have spent 25 years exploring South Dakota, so you can take it from us: there are a multitude of things worth doing and experiencing in our fair state, from the destinations and side trips every visitor can name to the cool stuff only locals know. That made whittling it all down to 25 Things Everyone Should Do in South Dakota an unenviable task.
       We did not shirk our duty, and now it’s your turn. Tally your current score, and add as you go. With summer upon us you should be able to make a sizable dent in our “must do” list. Go forth, dear readers, and don’t be timid: tally your points to discover if you’re truly adventurous or more on the mild side.

ALL-AROUND SOUTH DAKOTAN
70 to 100 Points — Congratulations! You are a bold soul indeed, and probably good-looking as well. Feel free to brag and come up with a new list to keep yourself challenged.

WEEKEND CHAMPION
40 to 69 Points — You may feel good about your accomplishments, but don’t get carried away. Remember: nobody ever won a gold buckle for sitting on the rodeo bleachers.

PRAIRIE NOVICE
Under 40 Points — You’re living in the House of Meek, but there’s no reason you have to be a permanent resident. Get up! Get out! Be a South Dakotan!

25 Very Unusual Man-made Places

ONLY GOD CAN MAKE a tree, but that hasn’t stopped South Dakotans from trying their hands at creation.
       We’ve fashioned some gigantic lakes, sculpted two mountains and assembled four walls with everything from mud, brick, straw, sticks and stones. An outside observer might accuse us of tinkering. But, truly, all we’re trying to do is give a little accent to the prairies and pine forests that were here before man.
       In 25 years of exploring South Dakota with this magazine, our writers, photographers and contributors have greatly enjoyed their opportunities to tell about unusual and lesser-known man-made places. Here are 25 favorites that we’ve visited in our 25 years.
       We are excluding obvious favorites like those sculpted mountains, the Corn Palace, the four Missouri River dams, the capitol in Pierre and the many grand buildings in downtown Sioux Falls. Excuse us for that. But we’ve written about them many times and we shall again. This is mostly a collection of places that you may not have heard about, and that you may want to enjoy in your summer travels.

A Sampling of South Dakotans

FAMOUS AND INFAMOUS. Saints and scoundrels. Odd and ordinary. Cranky and sweet. Folks we’d buy a used car from and a few who … well, never mind. We’ve come across all kinds of characters in the 25 years we’ve been publishing South Dakota Magazine. Some were dead when we started publication in 1985 — but we got to know them just the same by researching and writing about their lives. Others we were able to meet face-to-face.
       Very early on, our editors realized that as we get to know our fellow South Dakotans we also get a reflection of ourselves and who we are as a people — all the talents, habits and peculiarities. The following pages are not a “Who’s Who of South Dakota.”
       They are a sampling of the type of people who live in South Dakota. Nothing more or less.

The Inside Story of the People Behind Your Magazine

IF YOU'RE TALKING to a guy in a yellow slicker and hard hat and he’s spraying water on the blazing inferno that used to be your house, the discussion usually revolves around practical matters like, “If you had to guess, what are the chances of getting my kids out alive?” But, under routine, everyday introductions, “Where are you from?” and “What do you do for a living?” are generally the first questions asked. When I’m asked that last question I am always proud to answer, “I work for South Dakota Magazine.” If the person is from out-of-state there is usually a lull at this point in the conversation.

If they are from South Dakota it’s a different story. One of the advantages of being from a small state is that almost everybody has at least heard of South Dakota Magazine. Mostly they say, “I love that magazine!” and “I sit down and read every word the minute it arrives!”

Once they’re done gushing and ask me what I do at the magazine, I tell them I write a column called Seriously, Folks. This often proves a bump in the road for they can’t seem to recall my name or what I’ve written. It is especially awkward if they’ve just told me they read every word. Despite this recurring kick in the pants, it’s still great to meet subscribers. I get to bask in the magazine’s glory even though my contribution to the operation is actually quite small. I’m the tail of the dog. Heck, I’m a flea on the dog’s tail. Maybe even a bacterium on the flea on the…