South Dakota

Mount Rushmore National Monument

Mount Rushmore National Monument is home to the widely featured colossal sculpture of the four presidents; George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, Abraham Lincoln, and Theodore Roosevelt. The statue is a work of art and is majestically carved into the side of the mountain and is one of the major tourist attractions of South Dakota. Gutzon Borglum did the carvings and took several years to complete them. The Lincoln-Borglum Visitor center is also part of the site and a great place to visit. If you want a closer look at the monument, you can climb the Presidential Trail, which offers a much closer look at this work of art.

Mammoth Site

Mammoth Site, in Hot Springs, is one of the most popular attractions in the region. It displays many Columbian Mammoth bones that make for a fascinating site. On display are some partially covered mammoth bones for the visitors to witness what they were actually like when found. This display is at a covered and climate-controlled building. To learn more about the excavation process, guided tours are also available.

Spearfish Canyon

Known for its spruce pine trees, waterfalls, and cliff walls, the Spearfish Canyon is one of the region’s most scenic places and attracts hundreds of thousands of tourists every year.
Besides its scenic view and natural features, it is also an excellent place for hiking, with several popular hiking trails like Bridal Veil, Rough Lock Falls, Spearfish Peak, and Little Crow Peak. Although the picturesque views and natural abundance make Spearfish Canyon worth visiting throughout the year, the fall season is the best time to visit because of the changing colors that take its beauty to a different level.

Some other notable place and attractions:

National Music Museum
Sertoma Butterfly House and Marine Cove
Old Courthouse Museum
Wind Cave National Park
Good Earth State Park at Blood Run