South Dakota Tourist Attractions

By | January 3, 2023

Special churches, temples and monasteries

Cathedral of Saint Joseph in Sioux Falls
The Cathedral of Saint Joseph in the city of Sioux Falls was built from 1915 to 1919 in the style of the Neo-Renaissance. The Cathedral of Saint Joseph was built of limestone and therefore shines in bright white even today in sunny weather. But the interior of the cathedral also leaves nothing to be desired and knows how to come up with all kinds of splendor.

Contact 521 North Duluth Avenue
Sioux Falls, South Dakota 57104
www.stjosephcathedral.net

Stavkirke Chapel
The Stavkirke Chapel in the west of Rapid City, built in 1969, is a faithful replica of a Norwegian stave church. The Borgund Stavkirke of Laerdal served as a model. In addition to its actual purpose as a church, the Stavkirke Chapel can also be viewed as a place of relaxation and rest, and the surrounding landscape is ideal for hiking.

Contact 3788 Chapel Lane
Rapid City, South Dakota 57702
www.chapel-in-the-hills.org

Chapel Emmanuel Railroad Car in Madison
The Chapel Emmanuel Railroad Car in the city of Madison is a train compartment that is used as a church. There are a total of 13 of these “Zugkirchen” in the USA. The Chapel Emmanuel Railroad Car was in operation from 1983 to 1938. Today the Chapel Emmanuel Railroad Car belongs to the Prairie Village Museum.

  • Countryaah: Lists all towns and cities of South Dakota in alphabetical order. Also includes top 10 cities by population in South Dakota. Check medicinelearners for medical schools in South Dakota.

Methodist Episcopal Church in Pierre
The Methodist Episcopal Church in the city of Pierre was built in 1910 in the neo-Gothic style. In its history, the church was much more than just a church. In past times, it also served as the first library in the city of Pierre and as a gymnasium.

Festivals and events

Sturgis Motorcycle Rally
The Sturgis Motorcycle Rally is an annual motorcycle rally in the city of Sturgis in August. The Sturgis Motorcycle Rally is one of the largest motorcycle events in the world. The Sturgis Motorcycle Rally took place for the first time in 1938, but under the name Black Hills Classic. Today the Sturgis Motorcycle Rally attracts over 750,000 visitors annually.

Contact www.sturgismotorcyclerally.com

LifeLight Music Festival
The LifeLight Music Festival is an annual Christian music festival held on the weekend before Labor Day (first Monday in September). The location of the music festival is Worthing south of Sioux Falls. The first LifeLight Music Festival took place in 1998 and had around 2,000 visitors. No comparison to today’s times when the festival has over 320,000 visitors. The festival is free, however, represents an enormous economic gain for Sioux Falls.

Contact www.lifelight.org

Taste Festival
The Taste Festival is an annual culinary festival in the city of Freeman. As the name of the festival suggests, the festival, which has been taking place since 1959, goes back to the large number of German immigrants in South Dakota. In addition to a wide range of different dishes, musical entertainment and other offers ensure fun for the over 5,000 visitors every year.

Contact www.schmeckfest.com

Sioux Empire Fair
The Sioux Empire Fair is an annual fair held at the end of summer in the city of Sioux Falls. With over 250,000 visitors, it is the largest folk festival in South Dakota.

Contact www.siouxempirefair.com

Sioux Falls Jazz and Blues Festival
The Sioux Falls Jazz and Blues Festival has been an annual music festival in the city of Sioux Falls since 1988. Despite its name, the festival offers a platform not only for jazz and blues, but also for artists from other music genres. On two stages, the artists offer the more than 100,000 visitors an insight into their art and the best thing: the festival is free.

Contact www.jazzfestsiouxfalls.com


Zoos and parks

Falls Park in Sioux Falls
Falls Park is where the Big Sioux River forms waterfalls and which gave the city its name. The Falls Park is a popular destination for locals and tourists. Here you will find different viewpoints and recently even a five-story observation tower to be able to admire the Sioux Falls from almost all perspectives. On average, about 28,000 liters fall over 30 meters every second. But in addition to the actual waterfalls, there are also some historical buildings of the city of Sioux Falls and some interesting statues in the very beautiful park. Furthermore, a free laser and light show takes place every evening, depending on the weather.

Contact www.visitsiouxfalls.com/falls-park

Bramble Park Zoo in Watertown
The Bramble Park Zoo in the city of Watertown in the east of the state was opened in 1912 and covers approximately 61,000 m². The Bramble Park Zoo is home to around 500 animals from 130 species and is visited by around 50,000 guests annually. Highlights of the zoo include jaguars, white Bengal tigers, kangaroos and black bears.

Contact 800 10th Street Northwest
Watertown, South Dakota 57201
www.brambleparkzoo.com

Great Plains Zoo in Sioux Falls
The Great Plains Zoo in the city of Sioux Falls is a zoo opened in 1963 with a total area of ​​approximately 180,000 m². Around 850 animals from over 150 species live in the zoo. The most impressive animals include Siberian tigers, snow leopards, Pallas cats, zebras, giraffes, ostriches and rhinos. The zoo ticket also gives you free entry to the Delbridge Museum of Natural History.

Contact 805 South Kiwanis Avenue
Sioux Falls, South Dakota 57104
www.greatzoo.org

Rapid City
Reptile Gardens The Rapid City Reptile Gardens are a zoo specializing in the exhibition of reptiles. The Reptile Gardens were founded in 1937. At that time, however, it was nothing more than a small collection of snakes. Then as now, however, prejudices and myths are to be dispelled and education carried out when dealing with these animals. In addition to snakes, the Reptile Gardens also show alligators, Komodo dragons and many others.

Contact www.reptilegardens.com

National parks

Badlands National Park
The Badlands National Park is located in the southwest of South Dakota and covers an area of ​​approximately 1000 km². The name of the park, Badland, is explained by the nature of the region. The landscape is quite barren and rather dry and has no agricultural value. The landscape can still be described as a plateau with angular mountains, deep gorges and furrowed slopes. However, grass prairie also belongs to the national park. Furthermore, the park is covered with many fossil finds. The scenic beauty is probably known to most, because the film “Who dances with the wolf” was largely shot in 1990 in the national park and the surrounding area. There are also some animal species in the national park.

Contact www.nps.gov/badl

Wind Cave National Park
Wind Cave National Park was founded in 1907, making it the seventh national park in the United States. The national park, which is located in western Dakota near the city of Hot Springs, covers an area of ​​137 km². In the Wind Cave National Park is the cave called Wind Cave, which gave the park its name, which is one of the longest caves in the world. A total of 202 km of trails in the cave have been explored and mapped so far. The name of the cave comes from the fact that with different air pressures between the cave and the outside world there is a suction or pressure effect and thus wind is formed. The Wind Cave thus functions relatively as a means of weather forecast. But not only the sheer size of the cave, but also its beauty impress the visitor. There are calcium formations here, which spread out on the walls in the form of honeycombs. But not only the cave knows how to impress, because above the cave there is one of the last remaining prairies in which bison, wapiti deer, pronghorn antelope and prairie dogs live. So you can hike above ground on several hiking trails or take part in one of the 5 cave tours, which can take up to 4 hours. In the park there is a campsite with up to 75 places. So you can hike above ground on several hiking trails or take part in one of the 5 cave tours, which can take up to 4 hours. In the park there is a campsite with up to 75 places. So you can hike above ground on several hiking trails or take part in one of the 5 cave tours, which can take up to 4 hours. In the park there is a campsite with up to 75 places.

Contact www.nps.gov/wica

Other natural beauties

Bear Butte State Park
Bear Butte State Park in the west of South Dakota near the city of Sturgis is a state park that has existed since 1961 and is a very large hardening rock (rock that is particularly resistant to weathering and erosion and so over time the surrounding area) Landscape dominates), home to the Bear Butte, which the Native Americans living here consider sacred.
From the names that the different peoples gave this mountain, its current name is derived.
The mountain dominates the surrounding prairie and the park is ideal for hiking. The hike in particular (approx. 90 min) rewards the hiker with special views from the summit. Around the Bear Butte lives a small herd of bison, which makes the prairie harmony perfect.
There is a campsite in the park and there are offers for fishing, riding and much more.

Bear Butte State Park