SIDE TRIP
Mitchell, where corn is king Come for the corn; be delighted by the history By Neala Schwartzberg McCarten M itchell has long been famous for its Corn Palace, which is a venue famous political figure and has history that goes back centuries.
covers the open archaeology dig in the prehistoric Indian village. The real highlight of a visit to the Boehnen Memorial Museum offers a fascinating recreation of the interior of one of the roughly 80 lodges that once dotted the area and sheltered an extended family. The museum offers a short and infor- mative video starting with the discussion of the history of the residents. Those fascinated by archeology will definitely enjoy the description of the process of archeology and how the site is worked. Dakota Discovery Museum In between prehistory and modern day, the Mitchell Dakota Discovery Museum focuses on life on the prairie covering the time period from 1600 to 1939. Visit the Oscar Howe Art Center, named after the famous Native American artist born in South Dakota. There’s also a one-room schoolhouse, a train depot, a country church, and the Italianate-style home of Louis Beck- with, co-founder of the Corn Palace. For More Information: Mitchell, South Dakota, Convention and Visitors Bureau Visitmitchell.com
for concerts, sports events, and exhib- its. Built in 1892, the building is much more than a multi-purpose facility — it’s also celebrated as a work of art. The tradition started when the peo- ple of Mitchell wanted to attract new farmers. What better way to demon- strate the agricultural richness of the area then to use those agricultural products to decorate an actual building. The medium was truly the message, and each year the art changes. The 2014 theme is “Remember When.” Not only do the murals grace the outside walls, they are inside as well, the quasi-permanent creations by famous local artists Oscar Howe and Cal Schultz. The designs have been the same since 1989, although they have been refreshed with new materials every 10 or 12 years. The Corn Palace is open all year, but there’s a yearly Corn Palace Festi- val held in August, which just adds to the fun of a visit. For 2014 it’s sched- uled August 19 to 24. Most people who have heard of Mitchell, South Dakota, know of it because of the Corn Palace. But this small community of 15,000 people has more. It’s also the birthplace of a
McGovern Legacy Museum Outside of South Dakota, George McGovern may be best remembered as the anti-Vietnam War candidate who lost to Richard Nixon in the 1972 election. But the people of South Da- kota know McGovern (July 19, 1922 – October 21, 2012) was far more than that. He was a military hero and a statesman. During World War II he was a B-24 Liberator pilot who flew 35 missions over German-occupied Eu- rope. He received a Ph.D. from Dakota Wesleyan University and Northwest- ern University. On August 9, 2000, he received the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the United States' highest civilian honor. Today visitors can take a self-guided tour and explore the lives and legacy of George and Eleanor McGovern at the McGovern Legacy Museum. Mitchell Prehistoric Indian Village A compact six-acre site that over- looks the west bank of Lake Mitchell, Mitchell Prehistoric Indian Village holds dual status as a National Register and National Historic Landmark site. The Thomsen Center Archeodome
20 COAST TO COAST SUMMER 2014
Made with FlippingBook Online newsletter