{"id":83988,"date":"2025-02-07T15:46:15","date_gmt":"2025-02-07T15:46:15","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.wanderlustmagazine.com\/?p=83988"},"modified":"2025-02-13T17:38:58","modified_gmt":"2025-02-13T17:38:58","slug":"things-to-do-in-south-dakota","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.wanderlustmagazine.com\/inspiration\/things-to-do-in-south-dakota\/","title":{"rendered":"The Mount Rushmore State: 5 top things to do in South Dakota\u00a0"},"content":{"rendered":"<div class=\"wak-acf-block wak-acf-block-sidebar-content\" data-ad=\"first\"><div id=\"wak-acf-block-752653\" class=\"wak-acf-block wak-content-layout-default wak-acf-block-advert wak-ad-first\" data-placement-id=\"63374\" data-advert-visible=\"1\">\n    <style type=\"text\/css\">.wak-acf-block.wak-acf-block-advert .wak-advert-container{display:flex;justify-content:center;width:100%}<\/style>\n    <div class=\"wak-advert-container\">\n        \n            <div id=\"div-gpt-ad-63374\">\n                <script>\n                    googletag.cmd.push(() => { \n                        googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-63374'); \n                    });\n                <\/script>\n            <\/div>\n                <\/div>\n<\/div><\/div><div class=\"wak-non-acf-block wak-non-acf-block-core-paragraph\">\n<p>Many travellers might see wild and rugged South Dakota as something of an enigma. But the state\u2019s underrated national parks, rich Indigenous culture and Gold Rush history make for an absorbing trip. Venture west (perhaps on a road trip combining neighbouring North Dakota and\/or Wyoming) to find rippling badlands, iconic mountain sculptures and surprising cities surrounded by the wild. <\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n<div class=\"wak-non-acf-block wak-non-acf-block-core-paragraph\">\n<p>This year the state celebrates 100 years since its most iconic monument \u2013 Mount Rushmore \u2013 was designated a national memorial site, while it\u2019s been 60 years since the very first \u2018Buffalo Roundup\u2019 in Custer State Park too.\u00a0Here\u2019s why you should visit the Mount Rushmore State in 2025.<br><\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n    <div id=\"wak-acf-block-867119\" class=\"wak-acf-block wak-acf-block-article-image wak-content-layout-default\">\r\n        <style type=\"text\/css\">.wak-acf-block.wak-acf-block-article-image{flex-wrap:wrap;justify-content:center}.wak-acf-block.wak-acf-block-article-image .wak-title{text-align:left;width:100%}.wak-acf-block.wak-acf-block-article-image .wak-title+picture{margin-top:40px}.wak-acf-block.wak-acf-block-article-image .wak-caption{color:gray;margin-top:8px;text-align:right;width:100%}.wak-acf-block.wak-acf-block-article-image+.wak-acf-block-article-image,.wak-acf-block.wak-acf-block-article-image+.wak-acf-block-copy-content,.wak-acf-block.wak-acf-block-article-image+.wak-acf-block-image-carousel{margin-top:80px}<\/style>        \r\n        <h3 class=\"wak-title wak-h3\">1. Explore the Black Hills<\/h3>\r\n                    \n<picture>\n    <source media=\"(max-width:575px)\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.wanderlustmagazine.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/crazy-horse-memorial-south-dakota-350x250.jpg, https:\/\/www.wanderlustmagazine.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/crazy-horse-memorial-south-dakota-700x470.jpg 2x\">\n    <source media=\"(max-width:991px)\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.wanderlustmagazine.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/crazy-horse-memorial-south-dakota-1280x693.jpg, https:\/\/www.wanderlustmagazine.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/crazy-horse-memorial-south-dakota-2560x1386.jpg 2x\">\n    <source media=\"(min-width:992px)\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.wanderlustmagazine.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/crazy-horse-memorial-south-dakota-1280x693.jpg, https:\/\/www.wanderlustmagazine.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/crazy-horse-memorial-south-dakota-2560x1386.jpg 2x\">\n    <img fetchpriority=\"high\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.wanderlustmagazine.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/crazy-horse-memorial-south-dakota-350x250.jpg\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.wanderlustmagazine.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/crazy-horse-memorial-south-dakota-350x250.jpg, https:\/\/www.wanderlustmagazine.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/crazy-horse-memorial-south-dakota-700x470.jpg 2x\" class=\"attachment-83990\" alt=\"Crazy Horse Memorial in the Black Hills, South Dakota\" width=\"350\" height=\"250\"><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/picture>   \r\n        \r\n        <span class=\"wak-caption wak-image-caption-text\">The mammoth Crazy Horse Memorial in the Black Hills is still under construction (Shutterstock)<\/span>    <\/div>\r\n\n\n<div class=\"wak-acf-block wak-acf-block-sidebar-content\" data-ad=\"in_content_1\"><div id=\"wak-acf-block-365620\" class=\"wak-acf-block wak-content-layout-default wak-acf-block-advert wak-ad-in_content_1\" data-placement-id=\"63376\" data-advert-visible=\"1\">\n    \n    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ul+h1,.wak-acf-block.wak-acf-block-copy-content .wak-copy ul+h2,.wak-acf-block.wak-acf-block-copy-content .wak-copy ul+h3,.wak-acf-block.wak-acf-block-copy-content .wak-copy ul+h4,.wak-acf-block.wak-acf-block-copy-content .wak-copy ul+h5,.wak-acf-block.wak-acf-block-copy-content .wak-copy ul+h6{margin-top:40px}.wak-acf-block.wak-acf-block-copy-content .wak-copy h4,.wak-acf-block.wak-acf-block-copy-content .wak-copy h6{line-height:normal}.wak-acf-block.wak-acf-block-copy-content .wak-copy,.wak-acf-block.wak-acf-block-copy-content .wak-copy dd,.wak-acf-block.wak-acf-block-copy-content .wak-copy dt,.wak-acf-block.wak-acf-block-copy-content .wak-copy li,.wak-acf-block.wak-acf-block-copy-content .wak-copy ol,.wak-acf-block.wak-acf-block-copy-content .wak-copy p,.wak-acf-block.wak-acf-block-copy-content .wak-copy span,.wak-acf-block.wak-acf-block-copy-content .wak-copy ul{font-size:1.125rem;line-height:2.125rem}.wak-acf-block.wak-acf-block-copy-content .wak-copy a{font-size:1.125rem!important;line-height:2.125rem!important}.wak-acf-block.wak-acf-block-copy-content .wak-copy h1,.wak-acf-block.wak-acf-block-copy-content .wak-copy h2,.wak-acf-block.wak-acf-block-copy-content .wak-copy h3,.wak-acf-block.wak-acf-block-copy-content .wak-copy h4,.wak-acf-block.wak-acf-block-copy-content .wak-copy h5,.wak-acf-block.wak-acf-block-copy-content .wak-copy h6{margin:0;padding:0;word-break:break-word}.wak-acf-block.wak-acf-block-copy-content .wak-copy h1{font-family:Noe Display;font-size:3.75rem;font-weight:400;letter-spacing:normal;line-height:4.0625rem}.wak-acf-block.wak-acf-block-copy-content .wak-copy h2{font-family:Noe Display;font-size:3rem;font-weight:400;letter-spacing:normal;line-height:3.25rem}.wak-acf-block.wak-acf-block-copy-content .wak-copy h3{font-family:Noe Display;font-size:2.25rem;font-weight:400;letter-spacing:normal;line-height:2.5rem}.wak-acf-block.wak-acf-block-copy-content .wak-copy h4{font-family:Noe Display;font-size:1.75rem;font-weight:400;letter-spacing:normal;line-height:2.0625rem}.wak-acf-block.wak-acf-block-copy-content .wak-copy h5{font-family:Noe Display;font-size:1.25rem;font-weight:400;letter-spacing:normal;line-height:1.5625rem}.wak-acf-block.wak-acf-block-copy-content .wak-copy h6{font-family:Jost;font-size:.75rem;font-weight:500;letter-spacing:.08313rem;line-height:.875rem}.wak-acf-block.wak-acf-block-copy-content+.wak-acf-block-article-image,.wak-acf-block.wak-acf-block-copy-content+.wak-acf-block-copy-content,.wak-acf-block.wak-acf-block-copy-content+.wak-acf-block-image-carousel{margin-top:80px}<\/style>    <div class=\"wak-copy wak-body-standard-text\"><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The granite spires and valleys of the Black Hills have long been sacred to the region\u2019s Indigenous peoples, which include the Sioux tribe. Today a road-trip through the area offers the chance to dive into this Native history and also see one of the USA\u2019s most recognised monuments. Mount Rushmore National Memorial \u2013 which depicts four of America\u2019s key presidents \u2013 is South Dakota\u2019s most famous landmark. The giant granite faces of George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, Abraham Lincoln and Theodore Roosevelt, designed by Gutzon Borglum and finished in 1941, are certainly quite a sight. This year, the site marks 100 years since it was designated a national memorial (before construction even began) and there will be special events and talks at the park \u2013 check <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nps.gov\/moru\/index.htm\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">the NPS website<\/a> for updates.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">However, the spiritual importance of the Black Hills to the region\u2019s Native peoples means the monument has long been contentious. <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Learn more at the Crazy Horse Memorial site, less than 30 km to the west. This ambitious project involves the construction of what will be the world\u2019s largest mountain sculpture upon completion \u2013\u00a0a giant effigy of the Native Lakota hero Crazy Horse. Make time to explore the onsite Indian Museum of North America, which contains hundreds of artefacts telling the story of the USA\u2019s tribal nations, from a flag collection to regalia.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Excursions run by Lakota-owned <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Tatanka Rez Tourz (<a href=\"https:\/\/tatankareztourz.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">tatankareztourz.com<\/a>) also reveal the Black Hills\u2019 natural landmarks and cultural history, and include time exploring the Pine Ridge Reservation too.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Just a short drive away, Custer State Park is another jewel of the region. Hike and bike amid the granite bluffs and mountain lakes, or time your trip for the annual Buffalo Roundup, which sees the park\u2019s 1,300-plus bison herded through the wilderness. The event is sure to be extra special this year, as it celebrates its 60th anniversary.<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\r\n\n\n    <div id=\"wak-acf-block-528804\" class=\"wak-acf-block wak-acf-block-article-image wak-content-layout-default\">\r\n                \r\n        <h3 class=\"wak-title wak-h3\">2. Learn about ancient and modern wildlife in Badlands National Park<\/h3>\r\n                    \n<picture>\n    <source media=\"(max-width:575px)\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.wanderlustmagazine.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/badlands-loop-road-350x250.jpg, https:\/\/www.wanderlustmagazine.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/badlands-loop-road-700x470.jpg 2x\">\n    <source media=\"(max-width:991px)\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.wanderlustmagazine.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/badlands-loop-road-1280x693.jpg, https:\/\/www.wanderlustmagazine.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/badlands-loop-road-2560x1386.jpg 2x\">\n    <source media=\"(min-width:992px)\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.wanderlustmagazine.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/badlands-loop-road-1280x693.jpg, https:\/\/www.wanderlustmagazine.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/badlands-loop-road-2560x1386.jpg 2x\">\n    <img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.wanderlustmagazine.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/badlands-loop-road-350x250.jpg\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.wanderlustmagazine.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/badlands-loop-road-350x250.jpg, https:\/\/www.wanderlustmagazine.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/badlands-loop-road-700x470.jpg 2x\" class=\"attachment-84006\" alt=\"Badlands Loop Road, Badlands National Park, South Dakota\" width=\"350\" height=\"250\"><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/picture>   \r\n        \r\n        <span class=\"wak-caption wak-image-caption-text\">The Badlands Loop Road snakes through the park\u2019s North Unit (Shutterstock)<\/span>    <\/div>\r\n\n\n<div id=\"wak-acf-block-959122\" class=\"wak-acf-block wak-acf-block-copy-content wak-content-layout-default\">\r\n        <div class=\"wak-copy wak-body-standard-text\"><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Western South Dakota is characterised by rippling badlands and a great swathe of them are protected by Badlands National Park. The park\u2019s striking geological formations provide more than photo opportunities too \u2013\u00a0they\u2019re rich in fossils that reveal secrets about the creatures that once roamed here (everything from camel-like creatures to ancient rhinos). Hike through the park keeping your eyes peeled for modern-day wildlife including bighorn sheep, bison and prairie dogs.\u00a0 <\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Other popular activities include driving the North Unit\u2019s Badlands Loop Road, which is studded with trailheads and overlooks, and taking in the star-spangled night skies through a telescope during a dedicated ranger programme. <\/span><\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\r\n\n\n    <div class=\"wak-acf-block wak-acf-block-sidebar-content\" data-ad=\"in_content_2\"><div id=\"wak-acf-block-391662\" class=\"wak-acf-block wak-content-layout-default wak-acf-block-advert wak-ad-in_content_2\" data-placement-id=\"63377\" data-advert-visible=\"1\">\n    \n    <div class=\"wak-advert-container\">\n        \n            <div id=\"div-gpt-ad-63377\">\n                <script>\n                    googletag.cmd.push(() => { \n                        googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-63377'); \n                    });\n                <\/script>\n            <\/div>\n                <\/div>\n<\/div><\/div><div id=\"wak-acf-block-892848\" class=\"wak-acf-block wak-acf-block-article-image wak-content-layout-default\">\r\n                \r\n        <h3 class=\"wak-title wak-h3\">3. Find urban delights in Pierre and Sioux Falls<\/h3>\r\n                    \n<picture>\n    <source media=\"(max-width:575px)\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.wanderlustmagazine.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/south-dakota-state-capitol-350x250.jpg, https:\/\/www.wanderlustmagazine.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/south-dakota-state-capitol-700x470.jpg 2x\">\n    <source media=\"(max-width:991px)\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.wanderlustmagazine.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/south-dakota-state-capitol-1280x693.jpg, https:\/\/www.wanderlustmagazine.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/south-dakota-state-capitol-2560x1386.jpg 2x\">\n    <source media=\"(min-width:992px)\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.wanderlustmagazine.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/south-dakota-state-capitol-1280x693.jpg, https:\/\/www.wanderlustmagazine.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/south-dakota-state-capitol-2560x1386.jpg 2x\">\n    <img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.wanderlustmagazine.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/south-dakota-state-capitol-350x250.jpg\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.wanderlustmagazine.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/south-dakota-state-capitol-350x250.jpg, https:\/\/www.wanderlustmagazine.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/south-dakota-state-capitol-700x470.jpg 2x\" class=\"attachment-84001\" alt=\"The South Dakota State Capitol, Pierre\" width=\"350\" height=\"250\"><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/picture>   \r\n        \r\n        <span class=\"wak-caption wak-image-caption-text\">You can take a tour of the South Dakota Capitol Building in Pierre (Shutterstock)<\/span>    <\/div>\r\n\n\n<div id=\"wak-acf-block-721081\" class=\"wak-acf-block wak-acf-block-copy-content wak-content-layout-default\">\r\n        <div class=\"wak-copy wak-body-standard-text\"><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">In a state best known for its natural wonders, capital Pierre offers a dose of culture. Currently undergoing renovations (and set to reopen in summer 2025), the South Dakota Cultural Heritage Center takes a deep-dive into the state\u2019s history and contemporary culture. Come by to pore over everything from historic weaponry to traditional Lakota clothing as you piece together South Dakota\u2019s story. You can also explore the South Dakota State Capitol: the Neoclassical building, with its striking columns and stained glass, dates back to 1910 and tours offer a lesson in South Dakota history.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Some 360 km east, Sioux Falls is the state\u2019s largest city and it has cultural attractions befitting its size \u2013\u00a0home of the South Dakota Symphony Orchestra, and showcasing replicas of Michelangelo\u2019s famous David and Moses sculptures downtown. The state\u2019s largest art museum, the Sioux Falls\u2019 Visual Arts Center, spotlights local creators and especially Indigenous artists from the Northern Great Plains. The city also offers easy access to the outdoors, with Falls Park, a cascade-filled park just north of the centre, and the chance to paddle on the Big Sioux River.<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\r\n\n\n    <div id=\"wak-acf-block-675318\" class=\"wak-acf-block wak-acf-block-article-image wak-content-layout-default\">\r\n                \r\n        <h3 class=\"wak-title wak-h3\">4. Tour Wind Cave National Park <\/h3>\r\n                    \n<picture>\n    <source media=\"(max-width:575px)\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.wanderlustmagazine.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/bison-wind-cave-national-park-350x250.jpg, https:\/\/www.wanderlustmagazine.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/bison-wind-cave-national-park-700x470.jpg 2x\">\n    <source media=\"(max-width:991px)\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.wanderlustmagazine.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/bison-wind-cave-national-park-1280x693.jpg, https:\/\/www.wanderlustmagazine.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/bison-wind-cave-national-park-2560x1386.jpg 2x\">\n    <source media=\"(min-width:992px)\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.wanderlustmagazine.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/bison-wind-cave-national-park-1280x693.jpg, https:\/\/www.wanderlustmagazine.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/bison-wind-cave-national-park-2560x1386.jpg 2x\">\n    <img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.wanderlustmagazine.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/bison-wind-cave-national-park-350x250.jpg\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.wanderlustmagazine.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/bison-wind-cave-national-park-350x250.jpg, https:\/\/www.wanderlustmagazine.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/bison-wind-cave-national-park-700x470.jpg 2x\" class=\"attachment-84004\" alt=\"Bison in Wind Cave National Park, South Dakota\" width=\"350\" height=\"250\"><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/picture>   \r\n        \r\n        <span class=\"wak-caption wak-image-caption-text\">Wildlife is a star attraction at underrated Wind Cave National Park (Shutterstock)<\/span>    <\/div>\r\n\n\n<div class=\"wak-acf-block wak-acf-block-sidebar-content\" data-ad=\"in_content_3\"><div id=\"wak-acf-block-169219\" class=\"wak-acf-block wak-content-layout-default wak-acf-block-advert wak-ad-in_content_3\" data-placement-id=\"63378\" data-advert-visible=\"1\">\n    \n    <div class=\"wak-advert-container\">\n        \n            <div id=\"div-gpt-ad-63378\">\n                <script>\n                    googletag.cmd.push(() => { \n                        googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-63378'); \n                    });\n                <\/script>\n            <\/div>\n                <\/div>\n<\/div><\/div><div id=\"wak-acf-block-563174\" class=\"wak-acf-block wak-acf-block-copy-content wak-content-layout-default\">\r\n        <div class=\"wak-copy wak-body-standard-text\"><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Potentially one of the most underrated national parks in the system, Wind Cave spreads out in the far southwest of the state. As its name suggests, the park\u2019s prize attraction is the vast and labyrinthine cave system that spreads out beneath the ground and had its beginnings more than 300 million years ago. Ranger-led cave tours take visitors into chambers and passageways filled with stalagmites and stalactites and reveal fascinating geological facts alongside the caves\u2019 human history. There\u2019s plenty to explore above the ground too. Hiking trails wiggle across bison-grazed prairie grasslands, through ponderosa forests and past craggy rock formations.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\r\n\n\n    <div id=\"wak-acf-block-733753\" class=\"wak-acf-block wak-acf-block-article-image wak-content-layout-default\">\r\n                \r\n        <h3 class=\"wak-title wak-h3\">5. Discover Gold Rush history in Deadwood <\/h3>\r\n                    \n<picture>\n    <source media=\"(max-width:575px)\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.wanderlustmagazine.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/deadwood-south-dakota-350x250.jpg, https:\/\/www.wanderlustmagazine.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/deadwood-south-dakota-700x470.jpg 2x\">\n    <source media=\"(max-width:991px)\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.wanderlustmagazine.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/deadwood-south-dakota-1280x693.jpg, https:\/\/www.wanderlustmagazine.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/deadwood-south-dakota-2560x1386.jpg 2x\">\n    <source media=\"(min-width:992px)\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.wanderlustmagazine.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/deadwood-south-dakota-1280x693.jpg, https:\/\/www.wanderlustmagazine.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/deadwood-south-dakota-2560x1386.jpg 2x\">\n    <img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.wanderlustmagazine.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/deadwood-south-dakota-350x250.jpg\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.wanderlustmagazine.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/deadwood-south-dakota-350x250.jpg, https:\/\/www.wanderlustmagazine.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/deadwood-south-dakota-700x470.jpg 2x\" class=\"attachment-84005\" alt=\"Main Street in Deadwood, South Dakota\" width=\"350\" height=\"250\"><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/picture>   \r\n        \r\n        <span class=\"wak-caption wak-image-caption-text\">A trip to Deadwood feels like a step back in time (Shutterstock)<\/span>    <\/div>\r\n\n\n<div class=\"wak-acf-block wak-acf-block-sidebar-content\" data-ad=\"in_content_4\"><div id=\"wak-acf-block-908872\" class=\"wak-acf-block wak-content-layout-default wak-acf-block-advert wak-ad-in_content_4\" data-placement-id=\"63379\" data-advert-visible=\"1\">\n    \n    <div class=\"wak-advert-container\">\n        \n            <div id=\"div-gpt-ad-63379\">\n                <script>\n                    googletag.cmd.push(() => { \n                        googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-63379'); \n                    });\n                <\/script>\n            <\/div>\n                <\/div>\n<\/div><\/div><div id=\"wak-acf-block-198634\" class=\"wak-acf-block wak-acf-block-copy-content wak-content-layout-default\">\r\n        <div class=\"wak-copy wak-body-standard-text\"><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">A true Wild West town, Deadwood bloomed in the 1870s after gold was discovered in the Black Hills and became a stomping ground for famous frontierspeople such as Calamity Jane and Wild Bill Hickcok. <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">More than 150 years later, the town retells this Gold Rush history through quirky museums and reenactments \u2013 and while it\u2019s a little kitsch at times, there are genuine golden nuggets of history to be found. Take a tour of the Broken Boot Gold Mine and learn about the arduous life of a miner, and pay a visit to the Mount Moriah Cemetery, where some of the West\u2019s most legendary figures are laid to rest.<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\r\n\n\n<div class=\"wak-non-acf-block wak-non-acf-block-core-paragraph\">\n<p><\/p>\n<\/div><div class=\"wak-acf-block wak-acf-block-sidebar-content\" data-ad=\"last\"><div id=\"wak-acf-block-928129\" class=\"wak-acf-block wak-content-layout-default wak-acf-block-advert wak-ad-last\" data-placement-id=\"63380\" data-advert-visible=\"1\">\n    \n    <div class=\"wak-advert-container\">\n        \n            <div id=\"div-gpt-ad-63380\">\n                <script>\n                    googletag.cmd.push(() => { \n                        googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-63380'); \n                    });\n                <\/script>\n            <\/div>\n                <\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Road trip through this Western state to discover rippling badlands, Indigenous heritage sites and Gold Rush history&#8230;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":496,"featured_media":83994,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":true,"_relevanssi_hide_post":"","_relevanssi_hide_content":"","_relevanssi_pin_for_all":"","_relevanssi_pin_keywords":"","_relevanssi_unpin_keywords":"","_relevanssi_related_keywords":"","_relevanssi_related_include_ids":"","_relevanssi_related_exclude_ids":"","_relevanssi_related_no_append":"","_relevanssi_related_not_related":"","_relevanssi_related_posts":"24505,16437,53076,16661,21366,42587","_relevanssi_noindex_reason":"","inline_featured_image":false,"footnotes":""},"elementor-post":[],"inspiration":[18],"seo-content-tag":[],"seo-continent":[70],"seo-country":[],"coauthors":[332],"class_list":["post-83988","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","inspiration-outdoors-walking","seo-continent-north-america"],"acf":{"destination":[245],"header_video":"","header_image_caption":"","thumbnail_video":"","thumbnail_video_image":"","promoter_image":"","promoter_name":"","promoter_url":"","wak_author_name":""},"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v23.4 - 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