Snowy Range Pass

Snowy Range Pass

Wednesday, August 30, 2017

The Corn Palace and a flash back

A comment on my last post correctly noted that I incorrectly identified the statue at the I90 visitor center.  It was not there when we lasted visited the site and this visit was quick and I just assumed it was of Sacagawea, oops.  Since it was late, I just pulled the post.  So, one more time.

As we continued along the Lewis and Clark trail heading to Kennebec, SD, we decided to stop at the Corn Palace in Mitchell, SD.  We have been here several times before, but since they change the decoration on the outside of the palace each year, we wanted to check it out again.  Our first big surprise- the street in front of the palace was being ripped up completely and the road was closed.  After finding a place to park the motorhome we threaded out way through the construction to the front entrance and got our second surprise.  The corn decoration on the palace was now only being changed every other year.  This was no big deal to us as we have not been here in some years so it was still new to us.   The current theme was music legends.  We were told by a staff member that the change was made by the newly elected mayor last year.  Apparently, this decision and the mayor is not all that popular.  Perhaps the policy will change at the next election.  The inside remains as we remembered it. The popcorn is still good!










Heading north again, on I90, we stopped at the rest area with a Lewis and Clark visitor center.  We have stopped here in the past and it has a great view of the Missouri River.  From the visitor center, you can see across the river to a waterfront campground that is believed to be on the site where the expedition camped on their way north.  We camped there some years ago, while we were full timing. The most impressive thing to see at this stop is the statue called “Dignity”. 







The last stop was across the river and visit Al’s Oasis near where the campground is located.  We stopped here in 1986 on an RV trip to Yellowstone and other western sites with our two small daughters and Anneke’s parents from the Netherlands.  A sort of then and now moment.









7 comments:

Paul and Marti Dahl said...

Glad to hear the popcorn is still good, makes me want to go back there again. Sad to hear they are only going to change the design every other year, but in the era of tight budgets, I can understand.

Paul and Marsha Weaver OCT. 17, 2009 said...

Isn't the Corn Palace a hoot. We actually were really impressed with the work in all the panels.
We missed Al’s Oasis. Nice flashback photos.

Phyllis said...

We were just there in late June with the granddaughters. They had to have popcorn, of course. We, too, thought that statue was Sacajawea. Must be a common mistake. Then read the info on it. Impressive.

Sherry said...

We don’t normally do tourist sights but I do want to see the Corn Palace, it’s such an amazing idea. I have to sympathize with the mayor in that it must be very expensive in time and corn to redo it every year. I sure would like to have seen this year in person. Love the music legends. Willie Nelson in corn just makes me smile. Thanks so much for the pictures of it. Not sure I can get there by the time they redo it but wish I could. The Dignity statue is beautiful. Very moving. About time the people we displaced got some recognition. How wonderful to be able to do flashback pictures from over 30 years ago.

Bob and Jo said...

On our bucket list, thanks for sharing.

Happytrails said...

The Corn Palace is awesome!! It has been quite awhile since we were there...need to go back!!
The statue of the Native American woman is amazing!! Quite lovely!! I would love to see it!!

Nickie and Jim said...

Everything is made from corn -- kernels, cobs, shucks, right? Yup, that'd be a sight.
Besides, we love popcorn!