The Corn Palace in Mitchell, South Dakota is a popular tourist attraction with murals made from corn and other grains on its exterior walls. Local artists decide on the annual wall designs and the building was initially constructed in 1892 to attract settlers. The current building was built in 1937 and designed by a Chicago architectural firm. The murals have depicted various themes, including Mt. Rushmore and Native American scenes. The Corn Palace hosts numerous events each year and is rich in history.
If you’re in Mitchell, South Dakota, you might want to stop by the famous and eclectic Corn Palace, a local favorite and tourist attraction that is visited by approximately half a million people each year. The structure itself, in its current incarnation, is slightly reminiscent of a Turkish building, decorated with minarets and domes. What many people come to see at the Corn Palace are its exterior walls, which are transformed into murals made from corn and other grains each year. Local artists decide on the annual wall designs. Others come for the many events held at the Corn Palace each year, including the Corn Palace festival, Rodeo, Polka Festival, numerous concerts, and local high school basketball games.
It’s natural to wonder how a creative building like the Corn Palace evolved. The initial construction of the Corn Palace in 1892 was intended to attract potential settlers to the Mitchell area and South Dakota. The Corn Palace was an early 20th century showcase offering for Mitchell replacing Pierre as the new state capital. While this didn’t work out, the site remains of historical interest.
The current Corn Palace building was built in 1937 and designed by a Chicago architectural firm. The slightly Arabic look of the building certainly attracted the visitors and made the building more charming. Even the murals are works of art, not just random scattering of grain on the walls. In past years, various themes have been introduced and murals have depicted the faces of Mt. Rushmore, Native American scenes and scenes of rural life on the prairie. You can buy postcards of popular designs from years gone by.
There have been a few occasions where the Corn Palace murals have not been replaced. In 1943, the murals were painted instead of drawn in grain, as World War II was raging and grain supplies were low. A drought in 2006 forced Mitchell city leaders to conclude that the wheat murals should not be used that year.
Whether or not you get to see the Corn Palace murals in any given year, a visit to the Corn Palace is as rich in history as the corn porridge. You will find wonderful things to see at the Corn Palace and participate in a small part of the history of the architecture, which is quite different from most standard buildings. Check the events schedule if you’d like to see inside the building, since the Corn Palace is quite frequently used for a variety of activities.
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