Oldham South DakotaATTRACTIONS & THINGS TO DO
Listed below are the best attractions and things to do near Oldham, South Dakota.
1. Loriks-Peterson Heritage House
LOCAL HISTORICAL LANDMARK
The Loriks-Peterson Heritage House stands as a preserved historical landmark in Oldham, showcasing the area's rural heritage and early settlement history. Visitors can explore authentic period furnishings and agricultural artifacts that tell the story of pioneer life in eastern South Dakota. The house offers a glimpse into the daily lives of the region's early settlers through its carefully maintained architecture and historical exhibits.
2. 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 face of the mountain. The memorial represents the birth, growth, development, and preservation of the United States through the likenesses of Presidents Washington, Jefferson, Roosevelt, and Lincoln. Visitors can explore the Avenue of Flags, Presidential Trail, and the evening lighting ceremony that illuminates the massive sculpture.
3. Crazy Horse Memorial
WORLD'S LARGEST MOUNTAIN CARVING
Crazy Horse Memorial is an ongoing mountain sculpture project honoring the Lakota leader that began in 1948 by sculptor Korczak Ziolkowski. Once completed, this massive tribute will be the largest mountain carving in South Dakota and the world. The site includes the Indian Museum of North America and the Native American Educational & Cultural Center, providing opportunities to learn about Native American culture and history.
4. Custer State Park
WILDLIFE AND NATURAL BEAUTY
Custer State Park spans 71,000 acres of natural beauty where nearly 1,300 bison roam freely alongside pronghorn antelope, elk, mountain goats, and a band of burros. The park features scenic drives like the Needles Highway and Wildlife Loop Road that showcase the Black Hills' spectacular granite formations and abundant wildlife. Visitors can enjoy outdoor activities including hiking, fishing, camping, and the park's annual Buffalo Roundup held each September.
5. Wind Cave National Park
RARE UNDERGROUND FORMATIONS
Wind Cave National Park was the first cave to be designated as a national park and features the world's largest concentration of rare boxwork formations. The park encompasses 33,851 acres of forest and prairie on the surface, creating a sanctuary for diverse wildlife including bison, elk, and prairie dogs. Ranger-led cave tours take visitors through a fascinating underground world of unique calcite formations and winding passages.
6. Jewel Cave National Monument
THIRD-LONGEST CAVE SYSTEM
Jewel Cave National Monument protects the third-longest cave system in the world with over 200 miles of mapped passages. The cave earned its name from the glittering calcite crystals that line its walls, creating a sparkling, jewel-like appearance throughout the chambers. Visitors can choose from a variety of guided tours that showcase different sections of this massive underground labyrinth while learning about its unique geology and ongoing exploration.
7. Historic Deadwood
LEGENDARY WILD WEST TOWN
Historic Deadwood allows visitors to walk in the footsteps of Old West legends like Wild Bill Hickok, Calamity Jane, and Seth Bullock in this authentic 1870s gold rush town. Designated as a National Historic Landmark in 1961, Deadwood now offers a blend of history and entertainment including casinos, museums, historic sites, and reenactments of famous shootouts. The town's well-preserved Victorian architecture and Boot Hill Cemetery provide a tangible connection to its colorful and often lawless past.
8. Wall Drug
ICONIC ROADSIDE ATTRACTION
Wall Drug began as a small pharmacy in 1931 and grew into an internationally known roadside attraction by offering free ice water to travelers. Today, this sprawling 76,000-square-foot complex includes a restaurant, gift shops, western art gallery, and numerous photo opportunities including a giant jackalope and animated T-Rex. Millions of visitors stop each year to experience this uniquely American attraction known for its quirky advertising billboards that stretch for hundreds of miles along Interstate 90.
9. Badlands National Park
DRAMATIC ERODED LANDSCAPES
Badlands National Park showcases 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 contains one of the world's richest fossil beds, where ancient mammals like the rhino-like titanothere once roamed. Visitors can explore scenic drives, hiking trails, and ranger programs while witnessing spectacular sunrises and sunsets that transform the colorful rock formations.
10. Children's Museum of South Dakota
INTERACTIVE LEARNING ENVIRONMENT
The Children's Museum of South Dakota offers 44,000 square feet of interactive exhibits that encourage children and families to learn through play and exploration. Located in a renovated elementary school, the museum features both indoor and outdoor spaces including a two-story climbing cloud, animated T-Rex, and prairie play area. Exhibits focus on South Dakota's history, culture, and natural environment while fostering creativity, critical thinking, and hands-on discovery.
11. South Dakota Agricultural Heritage Museum
FARMING HISTORY SHOWCASE
The South Dakota Agricultural Heritage Museum preserves and celebrates the state's rich agricultural history through exhibits of historic farm equipment, household items, and rural artifacts. Located on the campus of South Dakota State University, the museum occupies the historic Stock Judging Pavilion built in 1918. Visitors can explore how agriculture shaped the state's development through interactive displays, photographs, and reconstructed environments depicting rural life from the 1880s through the 1950s.
12. The World's Only Corn Palace
UNIQUE AGRICULTURAL ATTRACTION
The World's Only Corn Palace is a multi-purpose facility decorated with naturally colored corn and other grains that create massive mural designs on its exterior. Each year, the palace is redecorated with a new theme using approximately 325,000 ears of corn meticulously nailed to the building. Beyond its unique architectural appeal, the venue hosts concerts, sports events, exhibits, and the annual Corn Palace Festival celebrating the agricultural heritage of the region.
13. Ingalls House
LITTLE HOUSE LEGACY
The Ingalls House in De Smet stands as a testament to the life and legacy of Laura Ingalls Wilder, author of the beloved "Little House on the Prairie" series. Visitors can tour the actual home built by Charles Ingalls in 1887 where the family lived and where Laura spent her young adult years. The site offers an authentic glimpse into frontier life as depicted in Wilder's books and connects fans with the real locations that inspired her classic American stories.
14. Spearfish Canyon
BREATHTAKING NATURAL WONDER
Spearfish Canyon is a magnificent limestone gorge in the Black Hills featuring towering limestone palisades and a rushing mountain stream. The canyon's 19-mile scenic byway winds past waterfalls, including Bridal Veil Falls and Roughlock Falls, while offering spectacular views of the surrounding forest. Visitors can enjoy hiking, mountain biking, fishing, and wildlife viewing throughout all seasons, with fall bringing especially vibrant foliage colors to the canyon walls.
15. CH Patisserie
WORLD-CLASS DESSERT DESTINATION
CH Patisserie brings world-class French pastries and desserts to downtown Sioux Falls, created by owner and Top Chef: Just Desserts winner Chris Hanmer. The elegant shop offers exquisite macarons, eclairs, tarts, and seasonal specialties crafted with meticulous attention to detail and artistic presentation. Visitors can enjoy these sophisticated treats in a stylish café setting while watching master pastry chefs at work through the open kitchen concept.