Culture of South Dakota facts for kids

The culture of South Dakota is a cool mix of different traditions! You can see influences from Native American tribes, the old American West, and the Midwest. Many groups of people who moved here from other countries also added their customs. This blend has shaped South Dakota's art, music, and stories.

Fun Festivals and Events

South Dakota loves to celebrate its history and different cultures! Many yearly events happen all over the state.

Celebrating Heritage

• Days of '76 in Deadwood celebrates the old West with rodeos and parades.
• Czech Days in Tabor shares Czech traditions.
• Sioux Falls hosts fun St. Patrick's Day and Cinco de Mayo parties.
• Riverboat Days in Yankton celebrates life along the river.

A rodeo at Days of '76 in Deadwood.

Native American Pow Wows

Many pow wows happen every year across South Dakota. These are special gatherings where Native American tribes celebrate their culture. They feature dancing, singing, and traditional foods.

Buffalo Roundup

At Custer State Park, there's a famous event called the Buffalo Roundup. Volunteers on horseback gather about 1,500 bison. It's a huge, exciting event that draws many visitors.

Arts and Crafts

If you love art, check out these festivals:

• The Brookings Summer Arts Festival in Brookings.
• The Sidewalk Arts Festival in downtown Sioux Falls.

Both show off amazing local art and crafts.

Crazy Horse Volksmarch

Near Custer, nearly 15,000 hikers take part in the Crazy Horse Volksmarch. This 6.2 miles (10.0 km) hike goes almost to the top of the Crazy Horse Memorial. It's a great way to see the monument up close.

State Fairs

Many towns and counties have yearly fairs.

• The Sioux Empire Fair in Sioux Falls is the biggest. Over 250,000 people visit it each year.
• The South Dakota State Fair is another large event. It takes place in Huron at the end of summer.

Sturgis Motorcycle Rally

The Sturgis Motorcycle Rally is a huge yearly event in Sturgis. In 2006, 450,000 people came to this famous motorcycle gathering. It's one of the biggest motorcycle rallies in the world.

Famous Writers and Stories

South Dakota has inspired many great authors. Their books tell stories about life on the prairie and the challenges of new beginnings.

Laura Ingalls Wilder

Author Laura Ingalls Wilder used her experiences growing up near De Smet as the basis for four of her novels.

Laura Ingalls Wilder is one of South Dakota's most famous writers. Her books are based on her own childhood. She grew up on a homestead near De Smet. Four of her novels share her experiences:

• By the Shores of Silver Lake
• The Long Winter
• Little Town on the Prairie
• The First Four Years

You can even visit her childhood home in De Smet today!

Ole Edvart Rølvaag

Another author from South Dakota was Ole Edvart Rølvaag. He was an immigrant from Norway. He came to Elk Point in 1896 to work on a farm. Later, he studied English at Augustana College. Rølvaag wrote many novels about immigrants. His books often showed their struggles to live and keep their culture in a new country. Some of his books include Giants of the Earth and Peder Victorious.

Other Notable Authors

• Frederick Manfred wrote many novels set in South Dakota. His books include The Golden Bowl (Manfred) and King of Spades.
• Black Elk was a Native American holy man. His life story and thoughts on Native American religion are in the book Black Elk Speaks.
• Paul Goble lives in Rapid City. He writes and illustrates children's books. Most of his books are about Native American topics. He won the Caldecott Medal for The Girl Who Loved Wild Horses.

Art and Artists

South Dakota's art scene is rich and varied. It includes ancient rock carvings and modern paintings.

Ancient Petroglyphs

Some of the oldest art in South Dakota is found in the Black Hills. These are petroglyphs, which are ancient paintings and carvings on rocks. Some are 3,000 to 5,000 years old! They show humans with raised arms or animals. These ancient styles are similar to today's Sioux artwork.

Early Artists of the Region

Starting in the 1830s, artists began to draw and paint the area around Fort Pierre.

• George Catlin visited in 1832. He sketched local tribes, dances, and bison hunts.
• Karl Bodmer, a Swiss artist, traveled up the Missouri River. He lived among tribes in central South Dakota. Bodmer created detailed landscapes and portraits of Native Americans.

Harvey Dunn

Harvey Dunn grew up on a farm near Manchester. He became a successful illustrator for magazines like Harper's. Later in life, Dunn painted scenes from his childhood in rural Dakota Territory. These paintings showed frontier life. He donated them to South Dakota State University. You can see them at the South Dakota Art Museum in Brookings.

Oscar Howe

Oscar Howe was born on the Crow Creek Indian Reservation. He became famous for his watercolor paintings. Howe was one of the first Native American painters to use an abstract style. This was different from more traditional Native American art.

Modern Artists

South Dakota is home to many talented artists today:

• Terry Redlin is from Watertown. He paints beautiful rural and wildlife scenes. Many of his works are at the Redlin Art Center in Watertown.
• Dick Termes lives in Spearfish. He is known for his Termespheres. These are scenes painted on a sphere that you can view from any angle.