Corn Palace

No pun intended? "I always tell people on my tours to keep an ear out for the corny jokes," said Magnuson, who has become a bit of a Corn Palace history buff.

From CNN's Travel News:

The Corn Palace, first established in 1892, towers over Main Avenue in Mitchell [South Dakota], its yellow and green onion-shaped domes and orange minarets shining in the sun. Corn cobs, grain and grasses form murals that cover its walls. Some of the inside walls also are covered with murals made of corn and grasses.

The Corn Palace attracts about 500,000 visitors a year.

"They're just always amazed at something so recognizable that's made out of corn," said Troy Magnuson, who has worked with the local chamber of commerce for 19 years.
The theme for the corn artwork changes each year.

A local artist designed a Lewis and Clark theme for the exterior walls for 2004. Silhouettes of Meriwether Lewis, William Clark and Sakajawea were created with different natural colors of corn.

"I've been here a lot and this is one of the best I've seen," said Carla Homan, a teacher from Kansas City, Missouri, who grew up in South Dakota. She had stopped in Mitchell on a concert tour with about 50 music students from the high school where she works.

"Everyone was like, 'You have to see the Corn Palace,"' said Karen Wollberg, a student on the trip.
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IF YOU GO ...

Mitchell is located along Interstate 90 in South Dakota, about 75 miles west of Sioux Falls and 310 miles east of Mount Rushmore. To get to the Corn Palace, take exit 332 or exit 330 north and follow the signs. The Corn Palace is at 604 N. Main.