Museums

World's Only Corn Palace

The World's Only Corn Place is Mitchell's Premier tourist attraction. Some 500,000 tourists come from around the nation each year to see the uniquely designed corn murals. The city's first Corn Palace was build in 1897 as a way to prove to the world that South Dakota had a healthy agricultural climate.
Eight years before the turn of the 20th century -1892- when Mitchell, South Dakota was a small, 12-year-old city of 3,000 inhabitants - the WORLD’S ONLY CORN PALACE was established on the city’s Main Street.  During its over 100 years of existence, it has become known worldwide and now attracts more than a half a million visitors annually.

Dakota Discovery Museum

Dakota Discovery Museum located at 1300 E University in Mitchell, offers year-round discovery of the bold and moving paintings by South Dakota's Artist Laureate Oscar Howe, or take a walk through the recreated art studio of famous western illustrator Charles Hargens. Discover the adventures of the Lewis & Clark expedition, as they traveled across the Dakotas. Tour the Victorian home of the founders of the Corn Palace - Louis & Mary Beckwith. Slip back through time and discover pioneer education in an 1885 one room school house. Take a 'time capsule' trip through life on the prairie from the time of the earlier Native peoples, through to the Great Depression & drought of the 1930's. Pre-arranged guided tours are available for groups at no extra charge. "It is impossible to know where we are going, until we discover where we've been". Discover Art, History & Culture at the Dakota Discovery Museum.

Thomsen Center Archeodome
 

Prehistoric Indian Village
 

Approximately 1000 years ago, a fortified village of semi-nomadic farmers/hunters flourished along the banks of a stream valley that is now Lake Mitchell. The site they chose is carefully preserved by the Mitchell Prehistoric Indian Village and Thomsen Center Archeodome Who were these people? Where did they go? And what is their legacy to modern man? Answers to these and other questions lie buried just beneath the surface. Today you can visit this rich archeological site, designated a National Historic Landmark and get a dramatic glimpse into their ancient way of life.

Cabelas

Few, if any, businesses today survive the kitchen-table dreams of their founders, especially in the outdoor industry where businesses come and go with the changing seasons. Yet, the leader in the outdoor equipment business has done just that - survived, grown and prospered from simple beginnings to become the largest mail-order, retail and Internet outdoor outfitter in the world.