South Dakota Road Trip Vacation in the 1950's with FamilyPhotos

You are generally invited to participate our a couple of families on a summer vacation in the 1950'sonce we made a road trip through Wisconsin to South Dakota. Several images had been taken aswell as could be brought to existence when once again from the photo album / scrapbook assembledby my Dad following the trip has been finished.

My Dad created notes associated with that which usually you would each day rather than onlyincluded pictures of our adventures, but within addition collected brochures, maps, postcards andfurthermore the like to embellish your black pages regarding the old leather bound and alsoembossed scrapbook tied collectively having a shoelace sort associated with assembly.

It is a family members treasure plus a wonderful remembrance of this certain vacation trip.

Kids posing under Mount Rushmore

See almost all 42 photos

My brother John, cousins Tom along with Bill as well as myself posing below Mount Rushmore.

Corn Palace within Mitchell, South Dakota

Mitchell Corn Palace

See almost all 42 photos

Our road trip begins...

My youngest brother and youngest cousin stayed in your personal home in Oconomowoc with mygrandparents that volunteered to assist keep and entertain these for the duration involving thisvacation trip our two households had made a choice to take.

Dad along with my Uncle Russ drove his or her cars inside tandem and stored inside sight of just oneanother. Remember...this has been long ahead involving the days of cell phones! Thus if your quithas been essential along the way, hand signals as well as car lights would have been flashed in orderto communicate between the 2 people inside the automobiles.

Mother as well as my Aunt Marge had been responsible for that meals preparation and that weenjoyed many picnics along the way.

The notes jotted down by simply my Dad and also taken from the scrapbook will henceforth takebold italics...

"Left house at 4 A.M. Saturday, August 4, 1956. Stopped for breakfast with Pettibone Park withinMinnesota throughout the Mississippi River from LaCrosse from 8 A.M. Arrived within Fairmont,Minnesota in 1 P.M. Stopped you can easily eat lunch around the banks involving Temperance Lake.

Arrived with Mitchell, South Dakota from 5:30 P.M. Rented cottage, ate supper, showered thushitting your sack early.

Sunday got up at 5 A.M., ate breakfast as well as went to church ( 7:00 Mass ) in Holy FamilyMembers Catholic Church. after church went alongside to start to see the Corn Palace. Entire frontregarding building covered with different colored corn along with grains."

Posing in front of the actual Mitchell Corn Palace, 1950's

See all 42 photos

Marge, Carol, Johnny, Billy, Tommy and Peggy in front of the particular Corn Palace

Corn Palace Mitchell South Dakota

Corn Palace inside Mitchell, South Dakota...

The original Corn Palace ended up being constructed inside 1892 and also was built of wood totallycovered using corn.

Another constructing such as the very first has been built-in 1905.

The present structure, built associated with brick and also embellished together with corn as well asother grains in artistic patterns in which change annually ended up being erected throughout 1921.

In the particular brochure my Dad picked up throughout 1956, it stated the annual cost regardingredecorating the particular Corn Palace each year stood from $15,000.

According to the Wikipedia account above, which price has now ballooned to approximately$130,000.

Not only is Corn Palace a new significant tourist attraction pertaining to this a part of the actualcountry, but the half block square building houses conventions, basketball games, stage shows and

lots of additional events throughout the particular year.

"Left Mitchell, South Dakota at 8:30 A.M. Sunday. Entered Missouri River just west regardingChamberlain, South Dakota in ten A.M."

2 families posing along with Missouri River powering them, 1950's

See almost all 42 photos

Billy, Uncle Russ, Johnny, Peggy, my Dad, Tommy

"After leaving the Missouri River we had been impressed by the shortage involving trees. TheParticular territory is extremely barren. Lots associated with waste land.

Stopped with Kodoki, South Dakota from 11:30 A.M. Ate lunch alongside side any railroad monitor ina freight station. not a lot of your location but it did get trees regarding shade. Most some otherwaysides consist involving an outhouse and a wood shelter to eat under. Weather very hot.

Arrived in Negative Lands, South Dakota with one P.M. Took the number of pictures. Wish we mighthave had colored film even as believed the particular Poor Property Rock Formations werebeautifully colored."

South Dakota bad Lands Pictures

Click thumbnail to always be able to view full-size

See almost all 42 photos

My parents...picture labeled underneath "Honeybabe & Me"

See all 42 photos

"Drove Carol nuts! thought we had been too near to edge. Johnny & Ralph."

See just about all 42 photos

My Aunt & Uncle...labeled "The Honey Mooners"

See almost all 42 photos

"Same edge, too shut - Johnny, Russ & Billy"

See almost all 42 photos

See all 42 photos

"Johnny - Billy - & Peggy"

See just about all 42 photos

"Beautiful Rock Formations"

See all 42 photos

"Left the actual Badlands in 2:45 P.M. Arrived at Rapid city from 4 P.M. Picked up a lot of maps &literature concerning the Black Hills.

Decided to always be able to find with Hill Town inside the heart in the Black Hills. Arrived in HillMetropolis with 5 P.M.

After considering various cabins we made your decision to consider the particular cabins at PineRest Motel. Moment six P.M.

Rented a double cabin in the gorgeous setting using a play area for the youngsters which in turnthey will enjoyed really much. The Particular owners were good to be able to us."

Our family at the Pine Rest Motel, Hill City, South Dakota

See all 42 photos

"Our cabin - Billy, Tommy, Peggy, Johnny, Carol, Marge & Ralph"

See most 42 photos

"Hill & woods right powering our cabin"

"Children's play area right next to always be able to our cabin. children received mail each dayinside the mailbox inside the play area in the owners of the cabins."

For a new present link to these Pine Rest Cabins, CLICK HERE.

Children's play location at the Pine Rest Motel, Hill City, South Dakota

See just about all 42 photos

Children's play region next towards the cabins where we stayed while in the Black Hills.

Mount Rushmore photo in the 1950's

See just about all 42 photos

Mount Rushmore throughout track record - "Top - Tommy & Peggy, Bottom - Johnny & Billy"

"Monday, August 5, 1956. Left cabin in 9:30 A.M. First stop...Mount Rushmore."

Mount Rushmore is certainly one of the key attractions pertaining to visitors to South Dakota. TheParticular 4 former Presidents with the Usa who have their particular likenesses carved to thestrong granite walls regarding this mountain are George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, TheodoreRoosevelt and also Abraham Lincoln. from chin for you to forehead each as well as every encountermeasures regarding 60 feet within height.

These particular Presidents were chosen to become honored simply because of the place that theyhave got inside American history throughout creating our democratic type of government.

Congress appropriated the actual funding and set aside the actual land within your Harney NationalForest for this monument being built.

Gutzon Borglum, the noted sculptor was chosen to end up being able to execute the monument aswell as began his are employed in 1927. He labored about it sporadically over a total involvingregarding 14 years yet died just ahead of its completion. His son, Lincoln Borglum finished what weobserve there today.

More Mount Rushmore Pictures

See most 42 photos

"Marge - Carol & 4 Friends"

See all 42 photos

"Two a lot more heads were added"

Mount Rushmore, South Dakota -

Mt Rushmore National Memorial, Keystone, SD 57751, USA

[get directions]

"lat":43.882587,"lng":-103.454063,"zoom":13,"mapType":"TERRAIN","markers":["id":"4728","lat":43.882587,"lng":-103.454063,"name":"Mount Rushmore, South Dakota","address":"Mt Rushmore National Memorial,Keystone, SD 57751, USA","description":""]

Tour regarding Mount Rushmore National Memorial

Kids posing using American Indian inside costume, 1950's

See all 42 photos

"Johnny - Peggy - Chief - Billy - Tommy"

Keystone, South Dakota

"After Mount Rushmore we stopped in the tiny city involving Keystone. The Particular girls enjoyedshopping pertaining to Indian costume jewelry.

The kids got a large bang out of getting their particular images taken by having an Indian in front ofhis Tepee. He gave the particular kids a new real collection about how exactly he fought whitesoldiers along with took more than because the chief of the tribe coming from Chief Crazy Horse.

From Keystone we went to Rushmore Cave as well as took the tour by means of the actual cavewhich usually took 1 hour. huge cave stored inside natural state. Lots of climbing."

Cosmos with the Black Hills photo

See all 42 photos

Note below your photo..."The difficulty is that I didn't even have got 1 great martini."

Black Hills National Forest

"We next stopped at the Cosmos, a spot in which defies the actual Laws of Gravity.

After the particular Cosmos we had lunch. Then on via the particular Black Hills National Forest.

Next stop...Rockerville Gold Town. Your city will be preserved from the Gold Rush Days. Additionallystood a tent theatre. very interesting.

Kids spent nearly most of their particular time in Rockerville talking to a Indian loved ones living inthe Tepee."

Dinosaur Park - South Dakota

See all 42 photos

"From best down - Johnny, Billy, Tommy & Peggy"

Dinosaur Park South Dakota

Reptile Garden to be able to Dinosaur Park...

"Next stop was the actual Reptile Gardens. Snakes of all kinds. Watched these milk a newrattlesnake. they let us pet any tame South American Boa.

Held up with a hail storm once we wanted to leave.

In elements of your Black Hills they'd hail stones your size of baseballs. Wouldn't possess believed itif we hadn't seen all of them ourselves.

Next upon Skyline Drive towards the Petrified Forest and to Dinosaur Park which was on the actualtop of a hill overlooking Rapid City, South Dakota.

Enough for eventually and thus back again to the cabin and obtain ready regarding tomorrow."

Dinosaur Park - South Dakota

See most 42 photos

"Kids liked this park - Tommy, Johnny, Billy & Peggy"

Scenery about Scenic Drive Highway # 85A, South Dakota

See all 42 photos

"One in the tunnels by means of rock about scenic route # 85A - Carol, Marge, Johnny, Billy &Tommy

See almost all 42 photos

"One of our small burro friends"

Scenic Drive Highway # 85 a and also sites viewed...

"Tuesday, August 7, 1956.

Left the actual cabins at eight A.M. for another day of travel.

On for you to Scenic Drive Highway # 85A.

Almost also gorgeous to become able to describe!

Pigtail curves, gorgeous bridges, tunnels via rock formations.

A lot of hill climbing.

At surface of hill from Lookout Point one would guess a likelihood to notice 80 or 90 miles awaysearching down upon gorgeous valleys, etc.

From this drive we drove via Nordbeck Wild Lifestyle Preserve.

At concerning 9:30 A.M. we entered Custer State Park trying in order to find buffalo.

Had to stop alongside highway because associated with little burros inside Luxury Horse Farms ForSale Mount Pleasant DC the road. they had been very tame. they ate cookies out of our own handsand then will come over for the car as well as stick their particular heads to the windows looking fora lot more hand-outs.

These burros seem being around the free just about all more than el born area as we found thesepeople any quantity of times."

Horses

Horses

Amazon Price: $0.75

List Price: $3.99

"Next stopped in Final Frontier Game Lodge.

Took in regards to a an hour horse again ride again into the hills.

Left there and stopped with campsite pertaining to lunch. Lovely spot. River operating via it withstrong rock walls in opposite facet of the river. Drinking Water therefore obvious you might consumeit.

All pine and also birch trees. Would want to camp in this spot to get a number of weeks with somelater on date."

Riding horses with last Frontier Game Lodge, South Dakota - 1950's

See almost all 42 photos

"Couldn't obtain Carol in order to go on the horses. Peggy, Ralph, Johnny"

See almost all 42 photos

"Russ, Marge, Tommy & Billy"

Posing at observation creating - Mount Coolidge - 1950's

See all 42 photos

"In observation creating together with Mount Coolidge - Johnny, Peggy, Tommy & Billy"

"Next we drove up towards the top of Mount Coolidge.

Went up into the observatory and also we might discover for most miles in most directions."

"Continued about via Custer State Park.

Saw 3 separate herds of buffalo.

Drove upon directly into Wind Cave National Park.

Saw 1 lone deer thus far.

Saw a lot more buffalo then stopped with Prairie Dog Town. Lots associated with little prairie dogs -cute small fellows.

We then came upon a new spot where these were feeding the actual buffalo. They Will had beenalmost all more than the street and on both sides. We got real excellent photos here.

Two regarding the big bulls had a fight the day before. one has been killed and also one other bull(which we have a picture of) really was scarred up and beaten up quite badly."

Buffalo inside Custer State Park along with Wind Cave National Park, South Dakota

See just about all 42 photos

"Buffalo throughout Custer State Park"

See all 42 photos

"Note scars upon some associated with these big bulls. Wind Cave National Park"

See all 42 photos

"Wouldn't wish to tangle with this boy"

Wind Cave National Park -

Wind Cave National Park, Hot Springs, SD 57747, USA

[get directions]

"lat":43.581322,"lng":-103.474297,"zoom":10,"mapType":"ROADMAP","markers":["id":"4729","lat":43.581322,"lng":-103.474297,"name":"Wind Cave National Park","address":"Wind Cave National Park, Hot Springs, SD57747, USA","description":""]

Kids riding donkeys, 1950's

See just about all 42 photos

"Peggy & Johnny - They Will are the particular type in top"

See all 42 photos

"We then drove via Hot Springs.

From there we took a new back highway to end up being able to circle again to become able to HillCity.

Stopped at Roses Hitching post Tavern in the little city of Pringle. Had a couple of beers. Fairly dry.

Next drove in to Custer after which stopped at Fairyland Zoo.

The kids almost all took rides upon small donkeys."

Needles Highway photo, 1950's

See all 42 photos

"Johnny, Billy, Peggy & Tommy along Needles Highway"

Stockade Lake...Needles Highway...Sylvan Lake...

"On means again in order to cabin we stopped with an additional beautiful campsite at StockadeLake.

Heading again by means of section of Scenic Drive # 85A from the various other direction. Driving ACar via your Needles Highway. Stopped and took an image of the kids however it is practicallyacquiring too way gone for pictures.

We could view a couple of mountain goats up in the stone formations.

Next stopped at Sylvan Lake hotel then right down to Sylvan Lake. Beautiful. Took a new walk bymeans of sheer higher rock on narrow foot bridge down towards the dam using one end in the lake.

Getting also dark for pictures. Couldn't remain lengthy because it will be receiving late also it isactually suppertime. Left there and also arrived at cabins from 6:30 P.M. to finish a new mostpleasant day."

Thunderhead Falls...

"Wednesday, August 8, 1956.

Left your cabin at 7:15 A.M.

Driving alongside saw a lot of goats along the road. Passed Sheridan Lake.

All lovely country.

Next...Thunderhead Falls."

Video taken involving Black Hills via an airplane

"We noticed a lot of petrified logs and more burros across the road. We furthermore saw many oldcovered wagons and lots of outdated stone chimneys exactly where cabins ended up burned down.Must end up being nevertheless through previous pioneer days.

8:20 A.M. coming straight into lead and outdated mining town. next town...Deadwood.

Passed monument where Preacher Smith ended up being killed by Indians.

Next stop...Black Hills Airport where we fulfilled "Doc" (an previous Army buddy of mine). We pulledavailable online for just throughout time as well as power to observe him land. He provides his orperhaps the woman's own airplanes.

Next town...Spearfish.

9:25 A.M....entering Wyoming. Lots of red rock and also red earth. next town...Sundance, Wyoming.Stopped to find a beer and talked over old Army days.

Next...Sundance Mountain. entering Black Hills National Park, Wyoming. Bear Lodge Country. Lotsregarding sage brush."

Nice slide display with the Black Hills

Prairie dog photo

See just about all 42 photos

"One small prairie dog that offers been pretty shut for the car"

Devils Tower...

"Now getting into Devils Tower State Park.

Passed an additional Prairie Dog Town. Noticed all of them through the hundreds. These People begregarding meals almost all along the road.

We had lunch inside the park from the base of Devils Tower.

After lunch we walked along the foot path with the base of your tower and also took pictures."

Devil's Tower State Park - South Dakota

See most 42 photos

"Billy, Tommy, Peggy & Johnny on rock throughout park down below Devils Tower"

See almost all 42 photos

Black Hills Passion Play pictures in the 1950's

See all 42 photos

See just about all 42 photos

Spearfish Canyon South Dakota

More sightseeing...

"Left Devils Tower with 12:00 Noon. Stopped within town named Hulett, Wyoming. Cowboys allmore than the place.

The nation around here is beautiful. high hills the particular color of salmon sprinkled together withpine trees.

Passed wealthy ranches which have sprinkling methods running on wheels across their acreage.

We notice big herds associated with sheep. Observed a new black eagle.

Ranches with regards to each and every 10 to 15 miles apart.

Came right directly into a tiny town from the identify regarding Alzada, Montana.

Heading back towards Spearfish. Found fairly a few little herds of antelope. Stopped inside BelleFourche, South Dakota regarding a bit while. next arrived in Spearfish.

Went to determine Passion Play arena. Couldn't stay for play since it begins too far gone and also itsa lengthy drive back for you to Hill City.

Went back to become able to airport to see Doc off. We almost all went out around the area for youto watch him consider off within his airplane."

Bridalveil Falls...

"Left airport with regard to drive through Spearfish Canyon.

Stopped with Bridalveil Falls.

Crossed your river as well as climbed up to rock from base of the Falls to adopt pictures. TheParticular canyon is actually beautiful. Trout stream operating just about all across the canyon. Wefound deer across the stream."

Bridalveil Falls photos...

Click thumbnail to end up being able to view full-size

See all 42 photos

"from leading - Johnny, Tommy, Peggy - Russ, Marge, Carol, Billy"

See all 42 photos

"At Bridalveil Falls - H2o Fall didn't display up as well well"

"Next stopped to see the Chair Lift from Terry Peak in Lead, South Dakota. Couldn't find that you go

up.

We then stopped in the Inferno as well as stood a beer. This is a tavern made from a classic goldmine. Terrific.

Back through Lead exactly where they even now provide an active "Homestake Gold Mine."

Stopped to buy souvenirs at a jewelry factory then again in order to cabin from Hill City.

Arrived with cabin with 7:15 P.M. Busy day."

"Thursday, August 9th, 1956.

Left the cabin late as we possess been going to consider it simple today and rest up for our trip backhome tomorrow.

Went out towards the monument of Chief Crazy Horse.

The monument is actually within the 7th year of your 30 12 months project.

The sculptor "Korczak Ziolkowski" features only 1 man to assist him.

It can be almost all donated occasion so they will really possess a herd involving dairy cows to createa living on.

The title of the mountain will be Thunderhead Mountain."

Chief Crazy Horse memorial, 1950's photo

See all 42 photos

"You are able to end up being able to see in the qualifications around the mountain exactly wherethey've cut out quite a bit with air hammers."

Crazy Horse Memorial Documentary 2/2

"In the actual evening we went over to ourcabin owners who have a driftwood shop. Webought all sorts of stuff.

The 1 daughter picks up every 1 involvingthese pieces of driftwood up in the hills thenthrough the winter months tends to be able tomake up just about all of the different piecesand finishes them.

She is truly a real artist. A Few with the piecesare simply beautiful."

Abourezk's Retailer souvenir paper

See all 42 photos

Pine Ridge Indian Reservation

"Friday, August 10th, 1956.

Heading with regard to home. Left cabin from three A.M. Went regarding three miles whenever wenoticed a huge buck deer about road. Via Custer, Pringle along with a component of Wind CaveNational Park. Although in park we came upon a whole herd associated with large elk rightsubsequent towards the highway in both sides.

Next directly into Hot Springs where we view a lot of range cattle. Drove by means of Slim Buttecountry. right here looks just like a miniature Badlands.

Next city Oglala in Indian Reservation. a huge talk about regarding their own houses had been logcabins. It is the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation.

5:40 A.M. intersected state range directly into Nebraska then back to South Dakota. Came upon spotup in hillside where Indians hold Sundance Ceremony.

Big Catholic Missions along with several Catholic churches throughout reservation.

The homes are only shacks and all sorts of wasteland.

Makes you wonder the approach they could create a living there.

A couple of beef cattle yet will be seems these people gave your Indians the actual lousiest terrainthey can locate pertaining to their particular reservation.

Next arrived with Mission, South Dakota. The Particular girls needed to quit and purchase moreIndian jewelry."

"Gregory next town.

Passed Fort Randall Dam - determination subsequent day.

Stopped at wayside over the bank of the river just outside Olivet.

Left South Dakota from 2:00 P.M. as well as intersected straight into Iowa.

Arrived at Mason City, Iowa with 5:45 P.M with a motel. Went out to eat at a fancy restaurantreferred in order to as Costos. Had the most fantastic Pike dinner. Then hit your sack for an earlystart tomorrow.

Anxious to obtain home now."

"Saturday, August 11th, 1956.

Left Mason city in 5:30 A.M. Drove a significant ways before we stopped with a little church yardand also had breakfast. A New terrific not enough waysides throughout Iowa.

Not too much from Mason city we saw a large buffalo ranch.

Went by means of Claremont then to be able to McGregor, Iowa as well as entered the actualMississippi River directly into Praire du Chein, Wisconsin with 8:30 A.M.

Took Highway 14 and Marge and also Russ stopped within Madison to end up being able to unload.

We held ongoing along with arrived residence with 12:00 Noon to be able to end any the majority ofgreat vacation."

If an individual liked this hub please PUT SOME STARS about it. Thank you!!!

5 out of 5 stars through six ratings associated with 1950's Highway Trip / South Dakota

This may end up being the finish involving my Dad's noted descriptions via our South Dakotavacation trip. Additionally attached towards the pages with the scrapbook are a variety of postcardswhich in turn aren't featured here while they tend to be glued towards the black pages as well as Icannot check these people pertaining to copyrights. Numerous maps and also brochures are alsoincluded in the scrapbook additionally for the pictures.

This has been our two family's very first major trip taken together and also what the pages do notnecessarily tell may be the entertaining we had vocal range inside the cars since the miles passedunder the actual rolling tires. To be Able To spend less the majority of our meals had been eatenpicnic type prepared by simply our mothers. Fairly often we kids would switch cars as well as spendtime riding along with our cousins.

Our a pair of families had been very near and frequently did issues together beginning along withour parent's double wedding...double honeymoon...and numerous weekends along with summeroutings invested together.

As the particular eldest of the "kids" and at the ripe old chronilogical age of nine years, fantasticmemories were created. That Will being said, I would enjoy to come back and consider inside thosemajestic South Dakota landscapes being an adult. Significantly entertaining will be had with mydigital camera today!

My cousin's loved ones are already able to retrace their own steps using the inclusion regardingtheir youngest son joining all of them in in which trip. Since my parents moved to Texas a few yearsright after this vacation, we in no way caused it in order to be again to South Dakota in order to asquickly as once more view such websites since the Black Hills, Badlands, Mount Rushmore alongusing other wondrous locations moved upon within this hub.

Hope an individual enjoyed returning for the 1950's, viewing loved ones images along with taggingtogether with us on this South Dakota road trip just just as much as I have got had fun insidereliving it through writing concerning this certain vacation.

Location associated with South Dakota within the U.S.

"lat":43.969517,"lng":-99.90181,"zoom":4,"mapType":"TERRAIN","markers":["id":"4730","lat":43.969517,"lng":-99.90181,"name":"South Dakota","address":"South Dakota, USA","description":""]

 Last up-to-date about April 7, 2014

You can help the HubPages community highlight leading quality content by ranking this article up orperhaps down.