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Corn Palace, Mitchell, SD

Visit the world’s only Corn Palace as part of this group motorcoach vacation package. Located in Mitchell, South Dakota, the Corn Palace stands as a tribute to the agricultural heritage of South Dakota. The original Corn Palace, called “The Corn Belt Exposition,” was established in 1892 and used by early settlers who displayed the fruits of their harvest on the building exterior to demonstrate the fertility of South Dakota soil. Today’s Corn Palace, recognized as a folk-art wonder on the prairie of South Dakota, is a practical structure adaptable to many purposes including industrial exhibits, dance, stage shows, meetings, banquets and basketball games. It is Mitchell’s premier tourist attraction seeing some 500,000 tourists from around the world each year who come to witness the uniquely designed Corn Palace murals.

Visiting Corn Palace

During your visit to Corn Palace you can delight in the building’s exterior decorations and murals. Unique architectural features such as onion domes and minarets make the Corn Palace appear as though it was drawn straight from a fairytale. Inside you can learn about Corn Palace history. Be sure to stop by the Gift Shop to browse items unique to the Corn Palace and South Dakota.

Corn Palace Decorations and Murals

Mitchell Corn Palace’s busiest time of year is from Memorial Day through Labor Day. During this time you can see the Corn Palace’s exterior decorations and murals completely stripped away and new decorations and murals, based on a theme selected by the Corn Palace Festival Committee, brought to life by local artists. The decoration process typically begins in late May with the removal of the rye and dock. Then, ear by ear, corn is nailed to the Corn Palace to create a scene. The corn murals are stripped at the end of August and the new ones are completed by the beginning of October. Marvel at the detail of the exterior decorations: naturally colored corn, other grains and native grasses make the Corn Palace “the agricultural show-place of the world.” Currently 13 different shades of corn are used to decorate the Corn Palace: red, brown, black, blue, white, orange, calico, yellow and green.

Inside the Corn Palace

Inside a short video will orient you with Corn Palace. Pictures from almost all of the prior years the Corn Palace has been decorated line the walls, illustrating the Corn Palace’s past.

Shopping at the Corn Palace Gift Shop

Also located in the Corn Palace is the Corn Palace Gift Shop. You can shop for handmade one-string and three-string corn necklaces available in black, blue, white, green, red and orange. One-string corn necklace sets including a corn necklace and corn earrings are also available to purchase. Corn Palace t-shirts come in all different sizes and colors. The world’s only Corn Palace popcorn balls are made fresh to order. They are sold by the dozen and come in an assortment of colors.

Travel Tips

- The Corn Palace is ADA complaint.

- Visit the official Corn Palace website to find out more about special events taking place during your visit to the Corn Palace.

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