Bushnell South DakotaATTRACTIONS & THINGS TO DO
Listed below are the best attractions and things to do near Bushnell, South Dakota.
1. South Dakota Cultural Heritage Center
STATE'S LIVING HISTORY
The South Dakota Cultural Heritage Center is an immersive museum that showcases the state's rich history from Native American cultures to pioneer settlements. Visitors can explore interactive exhibits featuring authentic artifacts, historical documents, and compelling storytelling that brings South Dakota's past to life. The center also hosts special events and educational programs throughout the year, making it a dynamic destination for history enthusiasts of all ages.
2. Cowboy Corner
WESTERN GEAR AND SOUVENIRS
Cowboy Corner offers an authentic selection of Western apparel, gear, and unique South Dakota souvenirs. The shop features handcrafted leather goods, custom boots, and locally made gifts that capture the spirit of the American West. Visitors appreciate the friendly service and opportunity to bring home a piece of South Dakota's cowboy heritage.
3. Singing Horse Trading Post & Bed and Breakfast
NATIVE ARTS AND LODGING
Singing Horse Trading Post & Bed and Breakfast combines authentic Native American art with comfortable overnight accommodations near the Badlands. The trading post showcases handcrafted jewelry, pottery, and artwork created by local Native American artists. Guests can immerse themselves in the cultural experience while enjoying the natural beauty of the surrounding landscape.
4. Wagon Wheel Bar & Grill
LOCAL FLAVORS AND HOSPITALITY
Wagon Wheel Bar & Grill serves up hearty Midwestern cuisine in a rustic, welcoming atmosphere. The menu features local favorites including hand-cut steaks, homemade burgers, and traditional comfort foods that satisfy hungry travelers and locals alike. With its friendly service and authentic South Dakota charm, this establishment offers a true taste of local culture and cuisine.
5. Mount Rushmore National Memorial
AMERICA'S SHRINE OF DEMOCRACY
Mount Rushmore National Memorial features the iconic 60-foot faces of four great American presidents carved into the granite of the Black Hills. The massive sculpture represents the birth, growth, development, and preservation of the United States through the likenesses of Washington, Jefferson, Roosevelt, and Lincoln. Visitors can explore the Avenue of Flags, Presidential Trail, and evening lighting ceremony for different perspectives of this awe-inspiring national monument.
6. Jewel Cave National Monument
UNDERGROUND NATURAL WONDER
Jewel Cave National Monument preserves the third-longest cave system in the world with over 200 miles of mapped passages. Visitors can choose from a variety of guided tours that showcase the cave's calcite crystals, dramatic rock formations, and unique boxwork features. Above ground, the monument includes 1,279 acres of pine forest with nature trails for hiking and wildlife viewing.
7. Custer State Park
WILDLIFE AND NATURAL BEAUTY
Custer State Park encompasses 71,000 acres of diverse terrain where nearly 1,300 bison roam freely alongside pronghorn antelope, elk, mountain goats, and burros. Visitors can drive the scenic Wildlife Loop Road for up-close animal encounters or explore the park's crystal-clear lakes, granite spires, and extensive trail system. The park offers a range of outdoor activities including hiking, fishing, swimming, and camping in one of the few truly wild places remaining in America.
8. Historic Deadwood
WILD WEST HERITAGE
Historic Deadwood invites visitors to walk in the footsteps of legendary Old West figures like Wild Bill Hickok and Calamity Jane in this authentic 1870s gold rush town. Designated as a National Historic Landmark in 1961, the town maintains its frontier character while offering modern entertainment including casinos, museums, historic reenactments, and guided tours. Visitors can experience the excitement of Deadwood's colorful past through preserved historic sites, saloons, and the Mount Moriah Cemetery where many Wild West legends were laid to rest.
9. Missouri River Recreation
MIGHTY MO ADVENTURES
The Missouri River offers abundant recreation opportunities across its free-flowing sections and four major reservoirs: Lake Oahe, Lake Sharpe, Lake Francis Case, and Lewis & Clark Lake. Outdoor enthusiasts can enjoy world-class fishing for walleye, bass, and catfish, along with boating, kayaking, and swimming in these diverse waterways. The river corridor also provides excellent wildlife viewing, camping sites, and historical landmarks connected to the Lewis and Clark expedition.
10. Wind Cave National Park
RARE UNDERGROUND FORMATIONS
Wind Cave National Park protects one of the world's oldest and most complex cave systems, featuring the largest concentration of rare boxwork formations anywhere on Earth. Above ground, the park preserves 33,851 acres of mixed-grass prairie and ponderosa pine forest where bison, elk, and prairie dogs thrive in their natural habitat. Visitors can experience both worlds through guided cave tours that explore the mysterious underground landscape and hiking trails that wind through the scenic surface ecosystem.
11. Crazy Horse Memorial
MONUMENTAL NATIVE TRIBUTE
Crazy Horse Memorial, begun by sculptor Korczak Ziolkowski in 1948, is an ongoing mountain carving that will become the world's largest sculpture when completed. This massive tribute to the Lakota leader depicts him pointing toward the lands where his people once lived and includes the Indian Museum of North America and Native American Educational & Cultural Center on site. Visitors can learn about Native American history and culture while witnessing the progress on this extraordinary multi-generational project that represents the spirit and resilience of indigenous peoples.
12. Falls Park
URBAN NATURAL WONDER
Falls Park showcases the natural beauty of the Big Sioux River as it cascades over a series of pink quartzite formations in the heart of Sioux Falls. The 123-acre park features viewing platforms, walking trails, historic buildings, and the five-story observation tower that offers panoramic views of the falls and downtown skyline. Visitors can enjoy the on-site café, visitor center with interactive exhibits, and seasonal light displays that transform the falls into a magical evening destination.
13. Corn Palace
WORLD'S ONLY CORN PALACE
The Corn Palace is a unique cultural landmark decorated with naturally colored corn and other grains that form elaborate murals on the building's exterior. Each year, the palace is redecorated with a new theme using more than 325,000 ears of corn, creating an ever-changing agricultural art gallery that celebrates South Dakota's farming heritage. Inside, visitors can explore exhibits about the palace's history dating back to 1892, shop for souvenirs, and attend various events and performances held throughout the year in this one-of-a-kind venue.
14. Dignity Statue
NATIVE AMERICAN HERITAGE MONUMENT
The Dignity Statue stands as a stunning 50-foot tall stainless steel sculpture overlooking the Missouri River, honoring the indigenous cultures of the Great Plains. Created by artist Dale Lamphere, the statue depicts a Native American woman in traditional Lakota dress holding a star quilt that moves with the wind. Visitors are drawn to this powerful symbol of hope and respect, which was installed in 2016 at the Interstate 90 rest area as part of South Dakota's 125th anniversary of statehood.
15. Badlands National Park
OTHERWORLDLY NATURAL FORMATIONS
Badlands National Park encompasses 244,000 acres of sharply eroded buttes, pinnacles, and spires blended with the largest undisturbed mixed grass prairie in the United States. The striking landscape was formed by the forces of deposition and erosion over millions of years, revealing colorful layers of sedimentary rock that contain one of the world's richest fossil beds. Visitors can explore scenic drives, hiking trails, and ranger programs while encountering native wildlife including bison, bighorn sheep, prairie dogs, and black-footed ferrets in this dramatic and ecologically significant park.