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Acquired as part of the Louisiana Purchase in 1803, South Dakota saw its first permanent at Fort Pierre in 1817.

In 1873, the Dakota Southern Railroad helped increase settlement of the region along with, a year later, the discovery of gold in the Black Hills which brought prospectors streaming into the territory.

Today, the Black Hills are more famous for Mount Rushmore in which the likenesses of Presidents Washington, Jefferson, Lincoln, and Theodore Roosevelt were carved by Gutzon Borglum beginning in 1927.

Other tourist attractions include the Badlands, the Crazy Horse Memorial and the real city of Deadwood, the history of which has become the subject of a television series on HBO.

Related Web Sites:

South Dakota Tourism - Mount Rushmore
Crazy Horse Memorial, Badlands National Park
Deadwood, and other historical & cultural attractions plus information on outdoor recreation, pictures, event calendar.

Black Hills & Badlands Vacation Guide - What else to do after you've seen Mount Rushmore, including guides to the areas national parks, scenic drives, waterfalls, wildlife, recreational trails and trout fishing.

Crazy Horse Memorial - Engrossing detail on the mountain-high statue, first begun more than 50 years ago, with recent pictures on its progress & a complete history, live webcams.

Pierre Area Chamber of Commerce - The capital city with information on its historical attractions, hotels & restaurants, nightlife, boating & swimming facilities, pictures, downloadable city map.

Rapid City Convention and Visitors Bureau - Major & nearby attractions, restaurant & hotel guide, history, maps, driving directions, pictures & video tours.

Welcome to Sioux Falls, SD - Recreational & historical attractions, hotel & restaurant guide, event calendar, pictures, maps.

South Dakota Summer Vacation Calendar:

also see -> South Dakota Lakes & Beaches | South Dakota Wineries

Christmas in South Dakota | Moving to South Dakota