You would never lack of space in this State, with its 200,000 km2 of surface and a population number lower than Boston's. Its vast lands are ideal for pedestrian and equestrian excursions, snow motorbike adventure, or skiing on almost deserted tracks.

Pierre

In the center of the State and on the edges of Missouri river, Pierre is the second-smallest State Capital in the US. The city was built near Pierre Fortress, which dated back to 1817. The Capitol gardens are decorated with an artificial lake, field of geese and ducks, supplied with an artesian well providing hot water.

Sioux Falls

The largest city of South Dakota, practically on its east border, Sioux Falls extends on the river Big Sioux, whose falls are used to generate electricity. A modern city partly built in pink quarzite.

Rapid City

Rapid City was, in 1876, during the gold rush, a provision point of the area's mining camps. The site was called Paha Sapa or Black Hills by the Indians because of the dark green color of the Ponderosa pine forests which cover the granite reliefs nearby.

In the west of the city, Black Hills were worshipped by the Indians like a sacred ground. The National Forest stretches next to it on 600,000 hectares of surface.

In the north of Black Hills, in the small town of Deadwood, are buried two of the most original characters of the West, Wild Bill Hickock and Calamity Jane.

On a part of the Black Hills are carved giant heads of four American presidents : George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, Abraham Lincoln and Theodore Roosevelts. They were created between 1927 and 1941 by Gutzon Borglum and his son, Lincoln, in the granite surface of Mount Rushmore National Memorial, about 40 km southwest of Rapid City, on US 16. A great attraction.

Mount Rushmore, as if you were there

Custer

Custer is one of the first discovered goldmines in the Black Hills, at the beginning of Goldrush. At Custer State Park you will find the biggest Buffalo herd in the continent (around 1,800 buffaloes!).

A steam train with old wagons run along the trail, serving as a shuttle for the tourists, bringing them along the track between Custer and Hill City.

Badlands National Monument

100 km southeast of Rapid City. A bunch of deserted lands, totally bald without any trees. A caleidoscope of bizarre and chatoyant colors on dazzling rocky formations produced by erosion and bad weather. Saw-teeth forming ravines, fantastic peaks, cathedral arrows and fairytale castles.

Wounded Knee Massacre
In 1890, soldiers of the 7th Cavalry Regiment are charged by President Benjamin Harrison to arrest the great Indian Chiefs (including Sitting Bull and Big Foot) and to take them to Wounded Knee Creek to collect their weapons and those of their tribes's. (more...)

The Wounded Knee Museum of Wall is entirely dedicated a this event, pointing on words, paintings and drawings, desiring to give people the most concrete proofs in order to understand better this tragic episode, which symbolized the end of the Indians's 3-century-long of resistance.