A Palace of Corn

I admit that when chatting with people around the nation and world, it can be a tad difficult to explain a corn palace. But not only is it a real thing, it is history that deserves to be remembered.

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This is original content based on research by The History Guy. Images in the Public Domain are carefully selected and provide illustration. As very few images of the actual event are available in the Public Domain, images of similar objects and events are used for illustration.

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Script by THG

#history #thehistoryguy #corn

[wisecoconut]

I have a photo of my grandparents on their wedding day, on a horse-drawn wagon, in front of the Corn Palace in 1929. ❤😊

[stevekeen]

That shade at North Dakota at the end was SAVAGE. Gotta love regional rivalries. As a Kentuckian, I can tell you those hoosiers from across the river in the land of corn and soybeans cant drive a lick.

[kathyastrom]

Back in the 1970s, my cousin was named Corn Palace Queen, which I think was an annual beauty pageant held during the corn festival.

[divindave]

I'm a Texan and had never heard of a Corn Palace. About 35 odd years ago I found myself in Mitchell S.D. for a week and there the Corn Palace was, in all it's glory! It's quite a curiosity to see, that's for sure.

[teukieangelica]

Driving back to Arkansas from Montana, I laughed at my husband for even suggesting the “Corn Palace” but it was so much fun! We were able to bring our puppy with us too. It was definitely an experience!

[fkirfirt]

I'm a North Dakota and I was not expecting the friendly slam at the end of your video! Did make me laugh.

[tomsilverfield]

Ordinary people from ordinary places can amaze you with their ability to make extraordinary things from ordinary objects.

[DavidKutzler]

My father was a professional truck driver his entire working career. He drove car carriers for several years, delivering new Ford cars to every state in the USA. He made several trips to Mitchell, SD to deliver new cars to the local dealerships and took many photos of the Mitchell Corn Palace with his slide camera. Somewhere in his old slide decks is a series of photos with the yearly updates to the Corn Palace murals.

[elliottkolker]

I'm from St. Louis (b 1951). In July, 1966, my family drove to Yellowstone via the recently openned I-90 through Mitchell, SD. Dad wanted to visit the Corn Palace. Ten years later I moved to Honolulu. One of my roomies, two years my junior, had recently been mustered out of the Navy. He was from Madison, SD., about an hour northeast of Mitchell. We become inseprable, bonding over our love for the Corn Palace. Two years later I was back on the mainland. In late September, a friend and I drove from Columbia, Mo. to Pullman, Wash. Along the way we stopped in Madison to visit my roomies' mother. Naturally we made a pilgrimage to the Corn Palace. Surprise! It was during the Corn Festival. My companion was a quick convert.

[janvanderheiden]

We stopped to see the Corn Palace during a trip west in the late 1990s. Loved it and have always remembered it.
I loved seeing the doll museum across the street, too, with many doll houses, if I recall correctly.
It was a very nice stop in Mitchell. Would love to see the Corn Palace again sometime.
LOL on North Dakota! I have not been able to visit there yet. Maybe some day...

[lauriereber]

In 1970, when I was 10, my family took a road trip across the contry from Pennsylvania to California. The Corn Palace was one of the stops we made. It was well worth the time to stop and see the unique artwork and learn the history of the place. I am thankful that I had the oppertunity to experience it. Thank you for telling others of our history.

[epeeist]

I accidently discovered the Corn Palace while driving from Charlottesville Virginia to Missoula Montana. I was so surprised such a place still existed I stopped and took a bunch of pictures to send back home. I was delighted to see it pop up on the History Guy! You should do one on Wall Drug as well, another amazing place I didn't know existed until I turned off the highway looking for coffee and a restroom.

[joshpulliam]

I got to go to The Corn Palace back in 2008. Pretty cool place!

That jab at North Dakota at the end had me rolling!

[DFSJR]

I remember going to the Corn Palace in Mitchell, SD back in 1977 when we took a family vacation around the USA. Art work was well done and my mom loved it.

[marywangen]

My Granny was from Canistota, South Dakota. My summers included a trip up there from our home in Texas, with my Grandparents, to visit family and the sites. The Corn Palace was part of the necessary destinations. Wonderful cherished memories!

[bella]

In 2012 my husband and I took a cross country road trip during which we came upon the Mitchell Corn Palace. We were lucky enough to be able to view a competition called a "Pedal Pull". Quite interesting. My husband also partook of his first corndog! What a lovely memory.

[twinkieman]

I stopped here with my dad during a road trip back from Yellowstone as a child. There’s still a picture somewhere of me standing in front of the palace with a corn cob shaped hat

[ghowell]

As a child in rural North Carolina, I was told stories about the "Great Corn Palaces." My Paternal grandmother would tell me about them, and lament how farmers here were looked down on as 'dirt poor dirt farmers' and wished we had the respect that the midwesterner's showed farmers. I think one of my uncles that had been hired to migrant farm tobacco up in Canada around the turn of the last century even got to see one of the palaces.

*Edited for misspellings

[daveraatz]

Can always tell a native South Dakotan when they pronounce our capitol as "Peer" rather than "Peeair" and takes a jab at North Dakota whenever possible. Thanks, great vid.
Sturgis native on the West Coast.

[MichaelWilliams-kqlv]

9 yrs ago on a trip from Georgia to Washington we stopped in Mitchell SD to see the corn palace. It was very impressive and I hope to make a return trip someday.