By Mariah Cannon

Located in the South Eastern corner of South Dakota, sits a town called Mitchell – That just so happens to be the home for the world’s only Corn Palace! Yes, you read right. An entire Palace made out of corn! Well, not technically made out of corn per se, but it sure has a lot of corn on it and in it.

Murals are made out of ears of corn that they split in half lengthwise around the outside of the building along with some throughout the inside. In fact, they use around 325,000 ears of corn!

I visited in the Summer of 2023 and it was such a fun little stop, especially if you have the family or younger kids. (Although I fully enjoyed it as a 21 year old)… Let’s get into it!

Where is the Corn Palace Located?

Well, as mentioned earlier, it’s in a medium sized town called Mitchell about an hour and some minutes West of Sioux Falls. You’ll barely get out of Sioux Falls before the billboards start popping up for it.

The town of Mitchell has a population of 15,000 people and lots to offer for families, individuals, and couples alike! There’s a ton of history to be found in the area along with cute downtown walks and great places to eat. It should definitely be a stop on your South Dakota road-trip.

History of the Corn Palace

The Corn Palace first started back in 1892, when Mitchell was a very young and very small town. The original building eventually became too small and they’ve rebuilt twice to what is now the building today. Last redone in 1921.

It was originally created so that rural farmers and city goers could gather once a year to celebrate a good agricultural climate. Mitchell still holds a festival in the late Summer at the Corn Palace to keep the tradition alive. Each year at this festival, they redecorate the outside and all of the murals throughout. Over time, it’s gained attention and gotten bolder. Now over 500,000 visitors come to see the palace every year.

Not only are there tons of visitors annually, but the town uses the building for tons of different gatherings, sporting events, graduation ceremonies, and more.

Every year, the theme of the murals changes. It’s been several things over the last 100 years including America’s Destinations, Rock of Ages, Scenes of the Old West, and about 100+ others! When I visited in 2023, it was “Under the Big Top” and currently as I’m writing this (2025), the theme is “Wonders of the World”.

When Should I visit?

The Corn Palace is open year round, aside from Holidays and may have differing hours during the festival (which we’ll get to in a minute!).

• January 1st-April 30th – Monday-Saturday 8am-5pm
• May 1st-Memorial Day – Daily 8am-5pm
• Memorial Day-Labor Day – Daily 8am-9pm
• Labor Day-October 31st – Daily 8am-5pm
• November 1st-December 31st – Monday-Saturday 8am-5pm

With the Holiday closures being:

• New Years
• Martin Luther King Junior Day
• President’s Day
• Easter
• Columbus Day
• Veteran’s Day
• Thanksgiving
• Christmas Day

Truthfully, this part of South Dakota is beautiful anytime. December through February is obviously the coldest time to visit, with an average of 30’s being the high. Every other month ranges from 60’s-mid 80’s as the high.

If you’re looking to get more than just the Corn Palace out of your trip, June-August may be the best time as there will be tons of other happenings, best weather, and most accessibility to surrounding areas. Here are some other great Things to do in Mitchell that aren’t the Corn Palace.

Admission

The entrance to the Corn Palace is free, however they have tons of souvenirs and fun things available to purchase in the gym/auditorium.

Corn Palace Festival

As I mentioned earlier, the festival happens every August, typically the last week. It consists of vendors, good food, rides, and loads of fun for the town of Mitchell. There’s tons of events throughout the festival including bingo, concerts from country artists, and many other games.

Tickets and wristbands for the festival typically range from $35-$60 depending on what night you visit and what all you get.

I highly recommend checking the Corn Palace out if you’ll be passing through South Dakota!

Enjoy this guide to visiting one of South Dakota’s hidden gems? Be sure to save it for future travels!

Let’s Get Adventuring!

Mariah