An hour west of Sioux Falls, on I-90, visitors can see a church steeple in the distance, and they know they are near Mitchell, a small midwestern town of 14,000 people. Mitchell has a reputation for attracting the road-weary, the unusual, and also the notably famous to its city. The main town consists of three or four storefronts which house the law offices, the jeweler, and the bars. What attracts visitors to Mitchell is that it is home to the world’s only Corn Palace, nicknamed “the world’s biggest bird feeder.” It was built in 1892 to celebrate the agricultural richness of the area and to encourage settlers to come there.

Each fall there was a festival, which grew larger and larger, and newer and larger structures were added until, in 1937, the final turrets and Moorish-inspired details were added. It is decorated with 3,000 bushels of corn, grain, and native grasses. Much as for a float, the corn, grain, and grasses are used to create murals of the South Dakota landscape, history, and harvest scenes. Inside is an auditorium, which has hosted every big band in the 1930s, 1940s, and 1950s. Even Andy Williams and Bob Hope have performed at the Corn Palace.

Each summer the murals are stripped off and new ones take their place at a cost of about $35,000. All this preparation is for Corn Palace Week, which is held in mid-September, and features country-and-western bands and carnivals.

Oscar Howe, a Yanktonai Sioux painter, has six panels inside. Visitors can also visit the Oscar Howe Art Center. His art depicts Native American life and has earned him international acclaim. The art center is a National Historic Site. The Friends of the Middle Border Museum also has Howe’s work, that of other American artists, and Native American exhibits.

The Mitchell Prehistoric Indian Village is just north of town. This is a National Archeological Landmark town from 900 BC, when it is believed that the people were devastated by drought. There is a hunter’s lodge, a museum, and a visitor center offering guided tours.

Mitchell is serviced by buses and Sioux Falls Regional Airport is the closest airport.