Mitchell Corn Palace

The first corn palace went up in 1892 to demonstrate that South Dakota soil could grow crops, at a time when the region was being marketed to settlers and doubted. The present building dates from 1921 and functions as the town's arena - basketball games and concerts happen inside. The exterior murals are the point: designed each year to a theme, they are made from about 325,000 ears of corn split in half and nailed to the walls with some 1.5 million nails, plus other grains, using twelve naturally occurring corn shades grown by local farmers. Each redecoration costs around $175,000.

What you'll find

• Murals made from split corn cobs - about 325,000 ears.
• Twelve natural corn colours - plus other grains.
• A working arena - basketball and concerts inside.
• A new design every year - to a theme.

When to go

Late August to December, once the new murals are complete. An hour.

Before you go

For much of spring and summer the walls are partly or entirely stripped. Birds and squirrels eat the murals through the year. It is a single building - the visit is short. The interior is an ordinary arena.

Nearby

The Badlands are west along I-90; Sioux Falls is east.

Key facts