The Corn Palace

After leaving the Badlands, we faced a long drive toward our next destination—the Mall of America. There isn’t much along the route… except for one quirky landmark: the Corn Palace. If you haven’t heard of it, you’re not alone. I spoke with people who had visited the Palace, and still claimed they hadn't heard of the place. The town of Mitchell South Dakota isn’t large, but it has one grand claim to fame—a building covered in massive murals made entirely from corn stalks.

I wasn’t sure what to expect walking inside, even though I’d been there before. It was still enjoyable—enjoyable in the way “Snakes on a Plane” is enjoyable. We bought corn balls (a popcorn and marshmallow concoction shaped into balls) and wandered into the main area, which serves as an auditorium, theater, basketball court, and gift shop all in one. We ate our corn balls, watched a short film about the palace’s history (John Philip Sousa played at the original opening), and browsed the shop. I left with cornbread mix, popcorn kernels, and a Corn Palace shirt. Honestly, I’d go back.

The stop was a nice break from the long drive. While we didn’t make it all the way to the Mall of America that night, we did get far enough into Minnesota to be just an hour away the next morning.