South Dakota Road Trip Vacation in the 1950's with Family Photos
92You are invited to join our two families on a summer vacation in the 1950's as we made a road trip from Wisconsin to South Dakota. Many pictures were taken and can be brought to life once again from a photo album / scrapbook assembled by my Dad after the trip was finished.
My Dad made notes of what we did each day and not only included photos of our adventures, but also collected brochures, maps, postcards and the like to embellish the black pages of the old leather bound and embossed scrapbook tied together with a shoelace type of assembly.
It is a family treasure and a wonderful remembrance of that particular vacation trip.
Kids posing below Mount Rushmore
Corn Palace in Mitchell, South Dakota
Mitchell Corn Palace
Our road trip begins...
My youngest brother and youngest cousin stayed at home in Oconomowoc with my grandparents who volunteered to keep and entertain them for the duration of this vacation trip that our two families had decided to take.
Dad and my Uncle Russ drove their cars in tandem and kept within sight of one another. Remember...this was long before the days of cell phones! So if a stop was necessary along the way, hand signals and car lights would have been flashed to communicate between the two families in the automobiles.
Mother and my Aunt Marge were responsible for the food preparation and we enjoyed many picnics along the way.
The notes jotted down by my Dad and taken from the scrapbook will henceforth be in italics...
"Left home at 4 A.M. Saturday, August 4, 1956. Stopped for breakfast at Pettibone Park in Minnesota across the Mississippi River from LaCrosse at 8 A.M. Arrived in Fairmont, Minnesota at 1 P.M. Stopped to eat lunch on the banks of Temperance Lake.
Arrived at Mitchell, South Dakota at 5:30 P.M. Rented cottage, ate supper, showered and hit the sack early.
Sunday got up at 5 A.M., ate breakfast and went to church ( 7:00 Mass ) at Holy Family Catholic Church. After church went to see the Corn Palace. Entire front of building covered with different colored corn and grains."
Posing in front of the Mitchell Corn Palace, 1950's
corn palace mitchell south dakota
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Corn Palace in Mitchell, South Dakota...
The original Corn Palace was constructed in 1892 and was built of wood entirely covered with corn.
Another building like the first was built in 1905.
The present structure, built of brick and embellished with corn and other grains in artistic patterns that change annually was erected in 1921.
In the brochure my Dad picked up in 1956, it stated that the annual cost of redecorating the Corn Palace each year stood at $15,000.
According to the Wikipedia account above, that cost has now ballooned to approximately $130,000.
Not only is this Corn Palace a major tourist attraction for this part of the country, but the half block square building houses conventions, basketball games, stage shows and many other events throughout the year.
"Left Mitchell, South Dakota at 8:30 A.M. Sunday. Crossed Missouri River just west of Chamberlain, South Dakota at 10 A.M."
2 families posing with Missouri River behind them, 1950's
badlands south dakota
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To the Badlands...
"After leaving the Missouri River we were amazed at the shortage of trees. The land is very barren. Lots of waste land.
Stopped at Kodoki, South Dakota at 11:30 A.M. Ate lunch along side a railroad track at a freight station. Not much of a place but it did have trees for shade. All other waysides consist of an outhouse and a wood shelter to eat under. Weather very hot.
Arrived in Bad Lands, South Dakota at 1 P.M. Took a number of pictures. Wish we would have had colored film as we thought the Bad Land Rock Formations were beautifully colored."
South Dakota Bad Lands Pictures
Click thumbnail to view full-size
black hills south dakota
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Moving on to the Black Hills...
"Left the Badlands at 2:45 P.M. Arrived at Rapid City at 4 P.M. Picked up lots of maps & literature about the Black Hills.
Decided to locate at Hill City in the heart of the Black Hills. Arrived in Hill City at 5 P.M.
After looking at different cabins we decided to take the cabins at Pine Rest Motel. Time 6 P.M.
Rented a double cabin in a beautiful setting with a play area for the children which they enjoyed very much. The owners were very nice to us."
Our family at the Pine Rest Motel, Hill City, South Dakota
"Children's play area right next to our cabin. Children received mail every day in the mailbox in the play area from the owners of the cabins."
A current link to these Pine Rest Cabins: http://www.pinerestcabins.com
Children's play area at the Pine Rest Motel, Hill City, South Dakota
Mount Rushmore photo from the 1950's
Mount Rushmore...
"Monday, August 5, 1956. Left cabin at 9:30 A.M. First stop...Mount Rushmore."
Mount Rushmore is one of the main attractions for visitors to South Dakota. The four former Presidents of the United States that have their likenesses carved into the solid granite walls of this mountain are George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, Theodore Roosevelt and Abraham Lincoln. From chin to forehead each face measures about 60 feet in height.
These particular Presidents were chosen to be honored because of the place that they have in American history in developing our democratic form of government.
Congress appropriated the funding and set aside the land within the Harney National Forest for this monument to be built.
Gutzon Borglum, a noted sculptor was chosen to execute the monument and began his work in 1927. He worked on it sporatically over a total of about 14 years but died just prior to its completion. His son, Lincoln Borglum finished what we see there today.
More Mount Rushmore Pictures
Mount Rushmore, South Dakota - Tour of Mount Rushmore National Memorial
Kids posing with American Indian in costume, 1950's
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Keystone, South Dakota...
"After Mount Rushmore we stopped at the small town of Keystone. The girls enjoyed shopping for Indian costume jewelry.
The kids got a big bang out of having their pictures taken with an Indian in front of his Tepee. He gave the kids a real line about how he fought white soldiers and took over as the chief of the tribe from Chief Crazy Horse.
From Keystone we went to Rushmore Cave and took the tour through the cave which took one hour. Huge cave kept in natural state. Lots of climbing."
Cosmos of the Black Hills photo
black hills national forest
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Cosmos of the Black Hills, etc...
"We next stopped at the Cosmos, a place that defies the Laws of Gravity.
After the Cosmos we had lunch. Then on through the Black Hills National Forest.
Next stop...Rockerville Gold Town. The town is preserved from the Gold Rush Days. Also had a tent theatre. Very interesting.
Kids spent most of their time in Rockerville talking to an Indian family living in a Tepee."
Dinosaur Park - South Dakota
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Reptile Garden to Dinosaur Park...
"Next stop was the Reptile Gardens. Snakes of all kinds. Watched them milk a rattlesnake. They let us pet a tame South American Boa.
Held up by a hail storm when we wanted to leave.
In parts of the Black Hills they had hail stones the size of baseballs. Wouldn't have believed it if we hadn't seen them ourselves.
Next on Skyline Drive to the Petrified Forest and to Dinosaur Park which was on top of a hill overlooking Rapid City, South Dakota.
Enough for one day and so back to the cabin and get ready for tomorrow."
Dinosaur Park - South Dakota
Scenery on Scenic Drive Highway # 85A, South Dakota
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Scenic Drive Highway # 85 A and sites viewed...
"Tuesday, August 7, 1956.
Left the cabins at 8 A.M. for another day of travel.
On to Scenic Drive Highway # 85A.
Almost too beautiful to describe!
Pigtail curves, beautiful bridges, tunnels through rock formations.
A lot of hill climbing.
At top of hill at Lookout Point one would guess the ability to see 80 or 90 miles away looking down onto beautiful valleys, etc.
From this drive we drove through Nordbeck Wild Life Preserve.
At about 9:30 A.M. we entered Custer State Park looking for buffalo.
Had to stop along road because of little burros in the road. They were very tame. They ate cookies out of our hands and then would come over to the car and stick their heads into the windows looking for more hand-outs.
These burros seem to be on the loose all over this area as we saw them a number of times."
Custer State Park video
Horses
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"Next stopped at Last Frontier Game Lodge.
Took about a 1 hour horse back ride back into the hills.
Left there and stopped at campsite for lunch. Beautiful spot. River running through it with solid rock walls on opposite side of the river. Water so clear you could drink it.
All pine and birch trees. Would love to camp in this spot for a couple of weeks at some later date."
Riding horses at Last Frontier Game Lodge, South Dakota - 1950's
Posing at observation building - Mount Coolidge - 1950's
"Next we drove up to the top of Mount Coolidge.
Went up into the observatory and we could see for many miles in all directions."
Buffalo own the road
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Custer State Park to Wind Cave National Park...
"Continued on through Custer State Park.
Saw three separate herds of buffalo.
Drove on into Wind Cave National Park.
Saw one lone deer so far.
Saw more buffalo then stopped at Prairie Dog Town. Lots of little prairie dogs - cute little fellows.
We then came upon a spot where they were feeding the buffalo. They were all over the road and on both sides. We got some real good pictures here.
Two of the big bulls had a fight the day before. One was killed and the other bull (which we have a picture of) was really scarred up and beaten up pretty badly."
Buffalo in Custer State Park and Wind Cave National Park, South Dakota
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Kids riding donkeys, 1950's
"We then drove through Hot Springs.
From there we took a back road to circle back to Hill City.
Stopped at Roses Hitching Post Tavern in the small town of Pringle. Had a couple of beers. Pretty dry.
Next drove into Custer and then stopped at Fairyland Zoo.
The kids all took rides on little donkeys."
Needles Highway photo, 1950's
Needles Highway video
Stockade Lake...Needles Highway...Sylvan Lake...
"On way back to cabin we stopped at another beautiful campsite at Stockade Lake.
Heading back through part of Scenic Drive # 85A from the other direction. Driving through the Needles Highway. Stopped and took a picture of the kids but it is almost getting too late for pictures.
We could see a couple of mountain goats up in the stone formations.
Next stopped at Sylvan Lake Hotel then down to Sylvan Lake. Beautiful. Took a walk through sheer high rock on narrow foot bridge down to the dam on one end of the lake.
Getting too dark for pictures. Couldn't stay long as it is getting late and it is suppertime. Left there and arrived at cabins at 6:30 P.M. to end a most pleasant day."
Thunderhead Falls
Thunderhead Falls...
"Wednesday, August 8, 1956.
Left the cabin at 7:15 A.M.
Driving along saw lots of goats along the road. Passed Sheridan Lake.
All beautiful country.
Next...Thunderhead Falls."
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- Henry Weston Smith - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Preacher Smith and his link to Deadwood
Video taken of Black Hills from an airplane
"We saw lots of petrified logs and more burros along the road. We also saw many old covered wagons and many old stone chimneys where cabins had been burned down. Must be still from old pioneer days.
8:20 A.M. coming into lead and old mining town. Next town...Deadwood.
Passed monument where Preacher Smith was killed by Indians.
Next stop...Black Hills Airport where we met "Doc" (an old Army buddy of mine). We pulled up there just in time to see him land. He has his own airplanes.
Next town...Spearfish.
9:25 A.M....entering Wyoming. Lots of red rock and red earth. Next town...Sundance, Wyoming. Stopped for a beer and talked over old Army days.
Next...Sundance Mountain. Entering Black Hills National Park, Wyoming. Bear Lodge Country. Lots of sage brush."
Nice slide show of the Black Hills
Prairie dog photo
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Devils Tower...
"Now entering Devils Tower State Park.
Passed another Prairie Dog Town. Saw them by the hundreds. They beg for food all along the road.
We had lunch in the park at the base of Devils Tower.
After lunch we walked along the foot path at the base of the tower and took pictures."
Devil's Tower State Park - South Dakota
Black Hills Passion Play photos from the 1950's
- Spearfish, South Dakota - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Tells of the amazing beauty of the area surrounding Spearfish. Passion Play and surrounding acreage put up for sale in 2007 upon the death of the originator and owner.
More sightseeing...
"Left Devils Tower at 12:00 Noon. Stopped in town named Hulett, Wyoming. Cowboys all over the place.
The country around here is beautiful. High hills the color of salmon sprinkled with pine trees.
Passed wealthy ranches that have sprinkling systems running on wheels across their acreage.
We see big herds of sheep. Saw a black eagle.
Ranches about every 10 to 15 miles apart.
Came into a small town by the name of Alzada, Montana.
Heading back toward Spearfish. Saw quite a few small herds of antelope. Stopped in Belle Fourche, South Dakota for a little while. Next arrived in Spearfish.
Went to see Passion Play arena. Couldn't stay for play as it starts too late and its a long drive back to Hill City.
Went back to airport to see Doc off. We all went out on the field to watch him take off in his airplane."
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Bridalveil Falls...
"Left airport for drive through Spearfish Canyon.
Stopped at Bridalveil Falls.
Crossed the river and climbed up to rock at base of the Falls to take pictures. The canyon is beautiful. Trout stream running all along the canyon. We saw deer along the stream."
Bridalveil Falls photos...
Click thumbnail to view full-size
Lead, South Dakota...
"Next stopped to see the Chair Lift at Terry Peak in Lead, South Dakota. Couldn't get anyone to go up.
We then stopped at the Inferno and had a beer. It is a tavern made from an old gold mine. Terrific.
Back through Lead where they still have an active "Homestake Gold Mine."
Stopped to buy souvenirs at a jewelry factory then back to cabin at Hill City.
Arrived at cabin at 7:15 P.M. Busy day."
chief crazy horse
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Chief Crazy Horse memorial...
"Thursday, August 9th, 1956.
Left the cabin late as we are going to take it easy today and rest up for our trip back home tomorrow.
Went out to the monument of Chief Crazy Horse.
The monument is in the 7th year of a 30 year project.
The sculptor "Korczak Ziolkowski" has only one man to help him.
It is all donated time so they have a herd of dairy cows to make a living on.
The name of the mountain is Thunderhead Mountain."
Chief Crazy Horse memorial, 1950's photo
Crazy Horse Memorial Documentary 2/2
"In the evening we went over to our cabin owners who have a driftwood shop. We bought all kinds of stuff.
The one daughter picks up all these pieces of driftwood up in the hills and then during the winter months makes up all of the different pieces and finishes them.
She is a real artist. Some of the pieces are just beautiful."
Abourezk's Store souvenir paper
pine ridge indian reservation
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"Friday, August 10th, 1956.
Heading for home. Left cabin at 3 A.M. Went about 3 miles when we saw a big buck deer on road. Through Custer, Pringle and part of Wind Cave National Park. While in park we came upon a whole herd of big elk right next to the road on both sides.
Next into Hot Springs where we see lots of range cattle. Drove through Slim Butte country. Right here looks like a miniature Badlands.
Next town Oglala in Indian Reservation. A big share of their houses were log cabins. It is the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation.
5:40 A.M. crossed state line into Nebraska then back into South Dakota. Came upon spot up on hillside where Indians hold Sundance Ceremony.
Big Catholic Missions and several Catholic churches throughout reservation.
The homes are just shacks and all wasteland.
Makes you wonder how they can make a living there.
A few beef cattle but is seems they gave the Indians the lousiest land they could find for their reservation.
Next arrived at Mission, South Dakota. The girls had to stop and buy more Indian jewelry."
"Gregory next town.
Passed Fort Randall Dam - dedication next day.
Stopped at wayside along the bank of a river just outside Olivet.
Left South Dakota at 2:00 P.M. and crossed into Iowa.
Arrived at Mason City, Iowa at 5:45 P.M at a motel. Went out to eat at a fancy restaurant called Costos. Had a most wonderful Pike dinner. Then hit the sack for an early start tomorrow.
Anxious to get home now."
"Saturday, August 11th, 1956.
Left Mason City at 5:30 A.M. Drove quite a ways before we stopped at a little church yard and had breakfast. A terrific lack of waysides in Iowa.
Not too far out of Mason City we saw a big buffalo ranch.
Went through Claremont then to McGregor, Iowa and crossed the Mississippi River into Praire du Chein, Wisconsin at 8:30 A.M.
Took Highway 14 and Marge and Russ stopped in Madison to unload.
We kept on going and arrived home at 12:00 Noon to end a most wonderful vacation."
Have you ever been to South Dakota?
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This is the end of my Dad's noted descriptions from our South Dakota vacation trip. Also attached to the pages of the scrapbook are a number of postcards which are not featured here as they are glued to the black pages and I cannot check them for copyrights. Numerous maps and brochures are also included in the scrapbook in addition to the pictures.
This was our two family's first major trip taken together and what the pages do not tell is the fun we had singing in the cars as the miles passed under the rolling tires. To save money most of our meals were eaten picnic style prepared by our mothers. Quite often we kids would switch cars and spend time riding with our cousins.
Our two families were very close and often did things together starting with our parent's double wedding...double honeymoon...and numerous weekends and summer outings spent together.
As the eldest of the "kids" and at the ripe old age of nine years, wonderful memories were created. That being said, I would love to go back and take in those majestic South Dakota landscapes as an adult. Much fun would be had with my digital camera today!
My cousin's family have been able to retrace their steps with the addition of their youngest son joining them on that trip. Since my parents moved to Texas a few years after this vacation, we never made it back to South Dakota to once again view such sites as the Black Hills, Badlands, Mount Rushmore and other wondrous areas touched upon in this hub.
Hope you enjoyed going back to the 1950's, viewing family pictures and tagging along with us on this South Dakota road trip as much as I have had fun in reliving it by writing about this particular vacation.
- Pictures of Farming in North Dakota in the early 1900's
My great aunt and great uncle used to own and run a large farming operation near Mapes, North Dakota. The numerous photos that I have included in this hub tell a story of their own.
CommentsLoading...
This is so detailed and well put together, it sounds like such an adventure. The pictures are a great additive as well. Voted up and awesome.
Hi TIMETRAVELER2,
I know! My aunt, uncle and cousins who live further north have gone back several times. My husband also visited the the Black Hills and other areas in South Dakota as a child. Would be fun for both of us to see again from a different perspective. Thanks for the comment.
You really ought to go back again...you would be amazed to see how things have changed! Lovely hub and lovely memories!!
Hello Johan,
Oh my! That would be a dream for many people to be able to travel for 6 months and see 34 states in that time. You are lucky! Can't wait to read about it. Thanks for leaving a comment on this South Dakota road trip article dating back to the 1950's.
Great post about your trip in 1950, my wife and I did a 6 month trip in 2009 visiting 34 States and what a great country it is to travel in.Posting out trip!
Hello Vinaya,
So happy to hear that you enjoyed this hub about our South Dakota Road trip back in the 1950's. It makes for some fond memories! Appreciate your comment.
Wonderful peek into the history.
I absolutely loved your work.
Hi sgbrown,
These are good pictures considering what cameras were like back then and I know it would not have been an expensive one that my Dad had. So we really were pretty close to those buffalo! Glad that you enjoyed this South Dakota Road Trip of the Black Hills and elsewhere. All the videos worked for me. Crazy glitch probably, but thanks for the heads up. Appreciate it, your comment and votes.
This hub was awesome! I have never been to the badlands, but would love to go someday. Your dad took some very good pictures. He got up close and personal with those buffalo, glad he was in the car! You did an excellent job with this hub, videos and all! FYI the map on the Wind Cave National Park, is not working...Love this hub, voted up and awesome! Have a wonderful day! :)
Hi PDXKaraokeGuy,
Can you give me a hint? What parts of the country will you be showcasing in your hubs going back to doing road trips with your family? Anything from South Dakota?
will do, peggy
Hi PDXKaraokeGuy,
Good luck writing your own road trip travels with your family. Looking forward to reading them. Do keep me posted! :))
Thanks, Peggy. I am slowly cataloging and writing about them. i'll keep u posted!
Hi again PDXKaraokeGuy,
You must have been quite young if you are not sure if you accompanied your parents on a road trip to South Dakota. I think that if you just start the process of writing about your road trips, you will enjoy it. It certainly brings back memories...at least for me. And by doing research, I sometimes continue to learn things about the places that I have visited in the past. That is always fun!
Peggy, I'm working on a story about a road trip I took on my own several years ago, but I rarely have the inspiration to write it. I do think I've been to South Dakota, though I'd have to ask my parents for sure!
Hello again PDXKaraokeGuy,
From what you said, you have many road trip adventures to share with us. You will have to get busy and write them! :)) Were any of them in South Dakota and did you get to see Mount Rushmore or other places featured in this hub?
Hi mandymoreno81,
The black and white photos taken back in the 1950's were typical as colored film was much more expensive back then and used less often...at least in our family. South Dakota is filled with some fabulous landscapes. The Chief Crazy Horse monument has progressed some since we were there although it will probably be many lifetimes before it is fully completed. We were talking about it just the other day with some new friends who send donations there every year supporting its eventual completion. Thanks for your comment.
Peggy, I do. I just need to post them!
I wasn't even born when you made that trip but it's spooky seeing black and white photos from that era and seeing how similar the monuments and landscape is 60 years later. South Dakota looks really empty too. A lot of flat land and wilderness.
Hello PDXKaroaokeGuy,
So glad that you enjoyed this nostalgic look at our South Dakota road trip to the Black Hills back in the 1950's. You undoubtedly have many stories and photos to share of your road trip adventures with your family. Thanks for your comment.
my family took may road trips growing up (My dad was a musician and we toured with him) and, even though I was born in 1980, these pictures and story brought back a sense of nostalgia and they also reminded me of looking through my grandfather's photo albums. very good hub! Well done!
Hello ellahall2011,
Guess the heads of the Presidents on Mount Rushmore showed up more. Haha! Glad to hear that you enjoyed this hub and thanks for your comment.
I almost couldn't see kids posing under Mount Rushmore. All of you seemed to camouflage with those heads. Very entertaining hub, Peggy.
Hello John W,
I am definitely glad to have grown up in the 1950's without all the distractions of today. I remember laying in the grass looking up at clouds and guessing the shapes and comparing that with what my mother and brothers thought they resembled. Bet not many people do things like that either today!
As to picnic lunches...when my German girlfriend and I took a car trip from Houston to California and back with the focus of visiting State and National Parks, we did do a lot of picnics along the way. Such scenic spots for our repast and it not only saved money but time. No McDonalds will ever take the place of eating in the open air at a picnic table...or even a rock or field located in gorgeous natural settings. I would still choose to do that.
Thanks for your comment.
I would give anything to have grown up in the 50s. If anybody does take car trips like that anymore, it's not without video games, cell phones, and TVs in the headrest of the car. And then nobody wants to take the time to appreciate everything around them. Picnic lunches - who wants to do that anymore when there is a drive-through every 100 yards. You were so lucky. I'd give anything to have grown up back then. I really enjoyed looking at this. Thanks
Hello HomerMCho,
The family photos taken on this vacation trip to South Dakota are undoubtedly considered vintage by now. Ha! Thanks for your comment.
You have cute family pictures, Peggy. This hub is very touching and inspiring.
Hello OHB,
So happy to hear that you enjoyed this hub about our South Dakota road trip taken so many years ago and that it also resurrected memories of your own. Thanks for your comment.
I've spent most of my life in South Dakota. Some of your pictures are similar to some I have and they do bring back memories. Great job on the article!
Hello sharon holst,
Nice that you got to enjoy it as my family and I did back in the 1950's. It certainly made a great impression upon my mind that has lasted through the years. Thanks for taking the time to leave a comment.
The pics of Rushmore, helped confirm my memory of 1953 Mt. Rushmore. It was a lot simpler than the entrance is now. I remember a long road that ended at Mt. Rushmore.
Hi Dave,
We share many of the same memories...save the hermit crab story. Haha! You probably also remember the Burma Shave signs posted at regular intervals along the road. :-)
Ah...the games in the car. Let's see...spotting license plates and writing down the names of the states, counting VW bugs and trying to find an Edsel! ROFLOL So many games to keep us occupied on the long road...no CD players, iPods, laptops, Walkmans or other gadgets. I recall the back of our car looked like a toy store with all the junk! LOL Back then, we used our imaginations and I even remember following the road maps for my dad, telling him when we should turn, etc. Today, I am still good at not getting lost and finding my way. I rarely get lost! The sites were great! The biggest ball of string, those weird animal places with snakes and stuff, historical sites along the highway.
I was born in 1953, so didn't remember the trips in the late 1950's. What great memories of my youthful adventures!! The one thing I do recall when in Florida is that I had a hermit crab and put it in my bucket, and the next day, it came out of its shell since it was in the car. I thought it was a huge spider, well, that is what it looks like without the shell...anyway, talk about almost causing an accident when the thing crawled on my leg!!! ROFLOL
Hi Dave,
This trip would have been in the late 1950's and it was surely fun! As you said..."those WERE the days!" It was a great bonding time for families. No distractions with all of the new electronic equipment that has everyone doing their own thing. We talked; sang; guessed what type of cars we saw on the road and played other games as the miles were traveled. Of course, the sightseeing was also great.
Happy that this could bring back happy memories of your trips with your family. Thanks for the comment.
Hey Peggy,
Wow, does this bring back some memories of my youth! I passed through S. Dakota on my way to Washington state, and remember the first time I saw the Badlands. Very rugged country. The photos were great and remember dressing like the boys in that picture...our crew cuts, shorts, etc. Although I am a bit younger than you, I do recall the little tourist attractions and mom/pop motels on the roads. My memories are from the early 1960's and recall several trips to Florida, and also some historical vacations to Chattanooga, Look Out Mountain, Rock City, and various Civil War locations.
My parents never did care to go west, for some reason, we always seemed to go south or south east, although after I was an adult, they went to the Grand Canyon. Ah...those WERE the days!
Thanks for the memories...wish we could do some of those trips again with our families!
Hello kimh039,
Thanks for commenting on these family pictures of our road trip to South Dakota in the 1950's. Nice to hear that it reminded you of your own vacation pictures with your family. :-)
Peggy, the main hub picture caught my eye. It looks like one of the many vacation pictures of my family growing up - except there were 5 of us - and we often went to the Smokey Mtns and caves on the way to Florida or on boating trips or family picnics at the park. Thanks for the reminder of some pleasant memories of some different times.
Hi Jaclin,
What a delight to find so complimentary a comment! That must have been a wonderful trip crossing the USA from Boston to Seattle! A German girlfriend and I spent 3 weeks traveling from Houston to California and back seeing mostly National Parks of the U.S. Have written many hubs about that trip but all of those sites would have been south of your travels if you stayed to the north.
The Crazy Horse memorial must be a BIT further along than when we saw it. Haha!
So happy to hear that you enjoyed this hub, and thanks again for your comment.
Dear Peggy...
WOW!!! On so many levels...
Thank you for sharing such amazing memories - I think your father must have been a 'scrapbooker' in the making... what lovely photos and memories for you and your family to look back on...
My partner and I originate from South Africa but live in England... last year we took three months out and did a road trip across the USA, from Boston to Seattle - and along the way absolutely fell in love with South Dakota... It was lovely to see photos - of the very same places that we visited... literally - it's like we were following in your foot steps - just 54 years later... We smiled at the photos of the Crazy Horse Memorial... in your Dad's notes he says that it was year seven of a 30 year project... having visited they are currently saying - having worked on it for 60 years - that children born today MAY see it's completion!!!
This was our first venture into 'hubs'... and what a fantastic find...
thank you... we're going to explore some of your others...
Regards Jace and Linz
Hi dahoglund,
It would not be a travelogue as much as what your type of business was like back in that era. It would interest me and I am sure it would interest others.
I'll give it some thought although my memory is not that good on details of where we went.
Hi dahoglund,
Sounds like a hub in the making! It would be interesting hearing more about that job and traveling through North and South Dakota back in the 1950's and things you would have experienced while working. How about doing a hub on that subject?
About that time I was working as a sales assistant to a dress salesman which meant mostly putting up displays and repacking.I remember the corn palace from then.we traveled much of the Dakotas I recall. I applied for a newspaper job in Rapid City once but didn't get it.Have been to that area several times however.
Hi Brad,
It is so nice that you have memories of visiting South Dakota with your parents and that you are continuing the tradition of making road trips to South Dakota (and probably elsewhere as well) with your wife and kids. Glad that you also liked my family pictures taken back in the 1950's. Take plenty of pictures of your own. They will be treasured someday just like these are by me. Thanks for the comment.
Wow! Great pictures! We are from Wisconsin as well and my parents used to take us out to South Dakota on occasion for summer trips. Now my wife, kids and I are continuing the tradition. We went in 2008 and just this past summer, we really like it out there. Liked seeing the pics of places we visited and how they looked in the 50's.
Hi Greg Young,
So you made a similar trip to South Dakota also in the 1950's! Happy that this could bring back some family memories of your similar road trip. Did your family collect those state stickers and put them on the family vehicle? That was popular back then.
Peggy
thanks for sharing your family's story of the trip to South Dakota. I was 8 when we made the same trip from Oregon to SD in about 1958 in a 1956 Pontiac station wagon with my family. Similar pictures. We went to visit relatives in Mitchell, but made all the same stops on the way to and from. Your pictures brought back some great memories. Thanks for the Memories!
Hello merseyblue,
I certainly can understand the itchy feet syndrome. Haha! We loved our family road trip back in the 1950's to South Dakota. It was wonderful that my Dad had assembled all the pictures, maps, etc. into this scrap book so that we could enjoy it through the years. Now that it is on the Internet...others can enjoy it as well. Thanks for leaving your nice comment.
It was a real pleasure to read this hub. The trip sounded amazing and how wonderful that your Dad made such a wonderful scrap book for you so you can always remember this time. Thanks for sharing. I really enjoyed this hub although it has given me very itchy feet :) x
Hi Dawn W,
Sorry, I do not have any pictures of what you want, but perhaps by posting it here others who read about this South Dakota Trip from the 1950's just might. Hopefully someone will come across this hub and get back to you. Your second address is probably gmail.com instead of email.com. Correct?
I am looking for any pictures you might have of the Inferno Bar in Lead, South Dakota. Can you help me out. You can reach me at dwilson@lemarssentinel.com or gypsy1964@email.com. I would really appreciate any help you can give me
Hi Jerry,
So nice to see you commenting here! Am sure if Jan checks back she will like it as well. You and your family are so fortunate to have been able to visit and revisit the same places in South Dakota including the Pine Rest Cabins multiple times. I have such fond memories! Thanks for the visit and comment.
Hi Peggy,
As you know I'm the cousin from Madison, WI. My kids who are now in college still think the Black Hills and the Pines Rest Cabins are some of their best memories. Stayed there with Jan and Steve numerous times and appreciated their hospitality and beautiful surroundings. Great place to vacation.
Hello Jan Johnson,
Nice to meet you! My parents had moved to Texas in 1960 but my aunt and uncle and family have returned to the Black Hills of South Dakota several times and always stayed at the Pine Rest Cabins. One of my cousins from Madison has taken his children there as well.
I would love to revisit those places as an adult and would surely want to make the Pine Rest Cabins a part of that journey.
Thanks for the comment!
Hello Peggy,
My husband Steve and I are the current owners of Pine Rest Cabins. I was delighted to come upon your wonderful scrapbook including the cabins. We've owned Pine Rest since 1992 and over the years I've collected a few vintage photos from local residents and returning guests, some of which are displayed at our visitor center in Hill City. We have photos of my son in the same playhouses you played in! Pine Rest Cabins turns 100 in 2011 and I plan to do a scrapbook to comemorate our history. The really neat thing about your road trip photos is that most of the places you visited are still enjoyed by our guests today. With the exception of the Passion Play which closed just a few years ago, from the Corn Palace to Burros and buffalo in Custer State Park to Devils Tower, you could re-create your families' vacation - wouldn't that be a fun adventure?
My parents also visited the Black Hills in 1956 and they recall staying in Hill City near the zoo - it may have been right here. The 50's were such romantic years - your Dad did a beautiful job putting that scrapbook together - thank you for sharing it - if you get by this way sometime I'd love to meet you. Kind Regards, Jan of Pine Rest Cabins
Hello Mih36,
Very happy to hear that you are enjoying these real photos and stories from the past. Our families really enjoyed our trip to South Dakota back in the 1950's. Thanks for the comment.
This is one of the best hubs I have seen. I am only 22 years old but I love when I see pictures from the past. I love real photos from that time. You can see how different people lived and how much it has changed now. Great article.! Useful Beautiful and Amazing!
Greetings Nevada Logan,
So happy that you enjoyed reading about and seeing the photos from this South Dakota road trip from the 1950's. Yes...the old phone numbers were pretty simple as were the addresses back then.
I just loved reading about your 50's trip. I noticed the phone number on the pine motel ad, what a riot, they actually had numbers like that! Thanks for sharing this wonderful hub.
Hi billyaustindillon,
I hope that you do get to take a road trip to South Dakota with your family. Am sure it is something that they will fondly remember forever. The scenery is so spectacular and out of the norm for what many of us get to ordinarily see. Thanks for your comment.
Peggy this is a beautiful testament to what was and your family but also the natural wonders of Dakota - I have never been but it is surely on the list of places I need to visit with my family. I loved those shots of the Bison also. I know this though, we will make the trip in Summer. :)
Hello ahorseback,
Seeing wild horses running...not many things as beautiful! You were fortunate to have seen that in your South Dakato experience. Depending upon when you went there, you might have seen more definition of the Crazy Horse monument. Our country certainly has so much to view and enjoy! Thanks for the comment.
I love this trip, I too went to the black hills once and my all time favorite was the I.R.A.M. wild mustang ranch down by hot springs , Taking a tour out through the wild country and seeing them in the wild was amazing, and of coarse , the crazy horse monument. I dont see why anyone needs to travel to other countries. thanks for the reminders of a nice trip....
Hello DREAM ON,
Glad you enjoyed this family vacation in South Dakota way back in the 1950's. It is a treasured memory for me and other family members. I agree with you that "There is something so special when a family goes on a road trip." Thanks for the nice comment.
I needed a vacation and yours seemed perfect.So many pictures when they were very expensive to get developed.Wow thanks for bringing me with you.There is something so special when a family goes on a road trip.
Hi oliversmum,
I also enjoy viewing the family pictures this way. So much larger than the actual photos in the album. Thanks for the additional comment.
Peggy W. Hi. The photographs were absolutely amazing, which I did not mention in my first comment, I have just read it again and enjoyed it even more. Thank you. :) :)
Greetings oliversmum,
Thanks to the great scrapbook my Dad had assembled after the South Dakota and Black Hills trip, we are all the beneficiaries of this 1950's road trip with the family pictures. So happy that you enjoyed it. I can assure you that I enjoyed it also by reliving it when putting together this hub and being able to see it in this format. Thanks for your nice comment.
Peggy.W. Hi. What an absolutely beautiful account of your priceless holiday, full of love, fun and laughter, it actually made me feel that I was there, will read it again so that I did not miss any, Thank you so much for letting us share in it with you. :) :)
Hello Money Glitch,
Happy to hear that you liked this 1950's road trip to South Dakota taken so many years ago with family members. As you say...now it is timeless. Thanks for the nice comment.
Wow, what a wonderful idea to make a hub on trips like this one. It's priceless because it happened so long ago and now it is timeless as well. :) Thanks for sharing!
Hello Truth From Truth,
How long ago did you visit North and South Dakota? Did you take pictures? Have you shared your experiences on hubpages? Glad you liked this trip down memory lane with my family and thanks for the comment.
Some great pictures. I have visited North and South Dakota and have great memories from the trip. I will definitely visit again. Thanks.
Hi katyzzz,
Actually when these photos were taken, black and white pictures were more commonly taken. Happy to hear that you enjoyed this South Dakota road trip hub and thanks for the comment.
Peggy, you are so colourful and yet you chose black and white photos, but this and the photos are a great hub and your work is prolific, well done.
Greetings britneydavidson,
Very happy to have shared these South Dakota experiences of our family vacation with you and others. Have heard from two of my cousins who love it. Thanks for the comment.
Hello callmefoxxy,
The black and white family pictures taken in South Dakota are nice. My Dad lamented the fact of not having colored film however to showcase the beautiful colors of the Badlands. It was a cost containment move back then. He would have been pleased to read your comment today. Thanks!
great hub sharing so nice moment spend with family, it is really a touching and emotional moment.thanks for involving us.
Enjoyed your hub Peggy W. Really nice black & whites. Don't know why this is not in use more. It adds such an artistic feel to the pictures. Thanks for sharing.
callmefoxxy, my pen is a mighty sword!
Greetings MissWright,
I have heard that the approach to Mount Rushmore is much more commercial looking now. Glad I saw it when I did although as I have already stated, I would love to return to South Dakota and see it again as an adult.
You certainly live in lovely country! Thanks for reading and leaving a comment.
Hi Ethel,
That trip to South Dakota was my family's first major trip taken together. South Dakota and getting to see all those fabulous sites certainly made for a memorable one. We can thank my Dad for having made the captions. Thanks for the comment.
Thanks Mardi,
I appreciate your prayers and good thoughts regarding my mother. I really miss her!
Yes...that South Dakota trip and others like it were so much fun "in the good old days" as you mentioned. We sang, we talked and we shared experiences much more so than today where everyone is distracted by all those other things.
Hi Ben,
Don't know about the Inferno but yes...they were real Indians, not actors. I recently tumbled upon this great old photo album / scrapbook about our South Dakota trip.
I have been assembling similar albums for years now. They are the best souvenirs of all. One can recapture those memories years later if notes are taken along with the photos and other mementoes of the trip and assembled soon after returning home.
Do it for yourself and your kids. You will be thankful in the years to come.
Peggy what a treat to see all of these amazing photos; I live near Custer South Dakota, and it amazing to see how things have changed; and not necessarily for the better.
I think Mt. Rushmore was so beautiful in its natural essence; I can understand the need for more parking and such, but the large pillar entrance, and all the shops and stores right at the lookout seems so commercial.
I am proud how lovely the parks still look, and all in all this is one of the most serene places I have ever lived! I tried moving home to California, and within one month of living there I literally moved “back home” . . . 14 years in South Dakota had sealed the deal; I was now a Dakotan!
Thanks for sharing these very personal memories. Your travelling started young. I love the captions
Peggy, this was a wonderful remembrance of a lot of fun family vacations back in the "good old days". I miss those trips, no cell phones, GPS, computers, just time to spend with the family. I am very sorry to hear about your Mother in the comments you left above, my prayers are with you and your family.
Mardi
Lots of fun Peggy, I wonder if the "Inferno" bar with the old mine shaft is still in operation?! Do you remember talking to the Indian family like you Dad said in his notes? Were they actors, or real Native Americans? Loved the pics of the Buffalo and the old cars too, what a great trip. I have to take my family on something like this, your Dad's work has inspired me to keep a photo journal, what a treasure.
Hi Ben,
Glad you like it so far. Half of the videos I inserted do not appear for some reason. Will have to check back later and if they still do not work...will add others. Will probably write more about my childhood...but as I told you, it would be in segments like this. Thanks for your interest and comment.
Just took a quick peek here Peggy, sounds great so far! I'll be back to finish later, what a fine collection your Father put together!
Hi Cheryl,
Thanks for your lovely comment. This family road trip to South Dakota was just too good to keep under wraps. Bringing some memories and smiles to me at this special time.
Hello itakins,
Thanks for the wonderful comment. So happy to be sharing our South Dakota trip with others. Also a slice of life from the 1950's as the pictures portray.
You have a treasure of great memories. Your restored photos are wonderful. I adore seeing a happy and loving family. Thanks for sharing South Dakota a beautiful historical place.
I loved every minute of this wonderful hub-brilliant.
Hello Lindsay Godfree,
I agree with you. It is wonderful to be able to take these old family pictures and transform them via the help of scanners and computers into this new way of enjoying our 1950's South Dakota vacation trip. I think my cousins will really like this hub. Thanks for the comment.
Hello doitrightnow,
This really WOULD bring back many memories for you since you regularly travel from Wisconsin to South Dakota. I do not specifically remember the grasshoppers as being anything beyond what they were like in the Wisconsin countryside...but I have to admit, 1956 was a looooooong time ago. :-)
As to the wind blowing...it was hot when we were there and those were the days before air conditioned cars.
Not familiar with the Pettibone pacer road race at LaCrosse but it sounded like fun with all of those prizes. Everyone was obviously a winner! Thanks for the interesting comments.
Hello loveroflife,
Glad this could resurrect your memories of visiting South Dakota. Thanks for the comment.
Hello Micky Dee,
Happy to hear that you enjoyed this trip that our families took oh so many years ago. Would love to revisit South Dakota again sometime. Thanks for leaving a comment.
Hi Hello, hello,
Happy to hear that you liked this trip review to the many South Dakota sites we got to see in the 1950's. It was fun to create and should also be fun for my aunt, uncle and cousins who accompanied us to relive through these family pictures. Thanks for the comment.
Hi Daryl,
So happy that you enjoyed this road trip hub to South Dakota in the 1950's. Am so glad that my Dad made these notes to go along with the photos.
Thanks for adding a link to this hub from your website which looks really nice BTW.
Amazing memories and photographs brought into the present technology. Really well done and a great way to relive it over and over.
This Hub will definitely go places on Google. Has all the elements of it. Lots of detailed words, videos, and pictures. Thanks so much for bringing back memories of South Dakota! My large extended family mostly lives there, so between weddings and funerals, my family and I used to drive there from Wisconsin on a regular basis! I especially loved the mention of La Crosse, WI and Pettibone Park across the Mississippi. I used to exercise at Pettibone Park all the time. Anyone out there remember the Pettibone Pacer annual road race, where we were lucky if twenty people showed up but Zoanne the director always managed to get TONS of door prizes from Sears and Macy's? Off topic, I know.
One thing you neglected to mention about SD - the grasshoppers. Grasshoppers everywhere. Oh, and the wind. The wind never stops, and it cuts through you like a knife, hot or cold. Usually cold.
Your hub brings back great memories for me. I too went on a family vacation to the Black Hills at about your same age.
Pretty incredible. I enjoyed all the pictures and videos. Really nice. Thanks very much Peggy.
Thank you very much for a very enjoyable read with lots of information.
Peggy, loved your blog post. The pictures, the videos...very nicely done. I liked it so much I bragged you up a little and put a link here from my little blog on the Sylvan Rocks Climbing website. Thanks again for the great South Dakota post.
Hi Putz,
Yes...love went into this hub. Am reliving happy times spent with my family and this road trip to South Dakota was one of the first memorable family vacations. Thanks for reading and leaving a comment.
Hi Celesta,
Just imagine what pictures could be taken today with digital cameras! This was such old time technology regarding the taking of pictures. Hope you get to South Dakota in the near future with your grandson Cain and get to visit Mount Rushmore and other spots. He would remember it always as I do. Would create very special memories. Thanks for commenting.
Hi Yolanda,
As you mentioned in your personal email to me...this was good for my soul. Remembering all of these wonderful times with my nuclear family (now all of them gone with my mother's death just last month) brought back such happy memories. Thanks for commenting on this South Dakota Road Trip hub from the 1950's. No hiding my age now! :-)
NICE HUB AND GREAT PICTURES AND I AM SURE SOME INCREDIBLE MEMORIES. THANK YOU FOR PUTTING THIS TOGETHER AN SHARING, IT TOOK A LOT OF WORK BUT I CAN ALSO TELL A LOT OF LOVE
Nice Hub, Peggy. I have traveled through South Dakota many times and passed by Mount Rushmore, but never got close to the presidents as you did. Since, they cleaned it up for the first time in 2007 since the faces were carved over sixty years ago, I have wanted to go and get a close up veiw and take pictures. Now, you have really made me want to do it soon. I want to do it for Cain. Thaks for sharing.
You have some good pictures.
What a wonderful trip down memory lane these photos were fantastic thanks for sharing !! love ya , Yolanda
Hi G-Ma Johnson,
So happy to hear that this hub about South Dakota brought back happy memories for you. Thanks for the comment.
Great Job...brought back so many memories for me...:O) Hugs G-Ma (since I was born In North Dakota)
Hi Candie,
My Dad was really a great person and had a wonderful sense of humor as you detected. He could tell jokes for hours on end! Glad you liked this South Dakota Road Trip taken waaaay back in the 1950's. Thanks for being the first to comment.
Your dad had a great sense of humor! It's easy to see where your love of traveling began!
I was in Yellowstone a few years ago, and there were so many families with kids griping and complaining and mad they couldn't just sit in the car while the parents went sightseeing.. sad. Loved this hub on the Badlands. Thanks Peggy, for sharing a bit of your dad and your family adventure with us!
Peggy W Hub Author 6 days ago
Hello dmop,
So nice to know that you enjoyed this travelogue & photos from many years ago visiting sites in South Dakota. Appreciate your comment and votes. Thanks!