Vintage Postcards - Cosmos and more in South Dakota - 1950's Photos

Vintage postcards and other souvenirs...

Going through some old family photos the other day I came across these vintage postcards of the Cosmos and additional items saved from a vacation trip to South Dakota taken in the 1950's.

This collection came from souvenirs my mother-in-law had saved when she took her son ( who would become my future husband many years later ) and her brother on a family vacation. Her brother was eighteen years younger than she was and only seven years older than her son. Thus she had two young men accompanying her on that sojourn to South Dakota from the State of Iowa where they lived at the time.

None of these postcards have posted copyrights so I thought that it would be fun to let readers see these as well as a menu from that day and time.

My family had also taken a family trip to the Black Hills in South Dakota and also saw the tourist attraction called the Cosmos.

It is a topsy - turvy gravity defying world once one has entered the Cosmos!

Cosmos

Notice the level placed on the  pieces of wood showing that everything should be exactly plumb and even?  Then who can explain the differences in height when the men exchange places?  These unexplainable things and more can be found at the tourist attraction in the Black Hills of South Dakota named the Cosmos.  The postcard above shows this anomaly beautifully.

Cosmos Postcards

On the back of each of the four collected Cosmos postcards is written the identical information:

"COSMOS OF THE BLACK HILLS

Located six miles from Mt. Rushmore, The COSMOS is the most unique Tourist Attraction in the entire Hills. Bring your camera for the most unusual pictures of your trip.

U.S. Highway 16

18 Miles South of Rapid City

Espe Printing Company, Rapid City, S.D."

It was fun finding these souvenirs that had been kept tucked away with photos and other mementos of their trip to the Black Hills since my family had also experienced much of the same when we went there on vacation also in the 1950's.

Written on the inside of this pamphlet is the following:

"YOU FEEL CRAZY AT THE COSMOS

WHAT IS THE COSMOS

The area known as the Cosmos is the strangest location in the entire Black Hills. Here the world is different, topsey turvey, with nothing in its normal position, including yourselves. The laws of nature seem to have gone completely berserk, and especially in the mystery house itself where even the plumb bob does not know what is straight up and down. But to feel the pressure of the area against you is the most unusual feature of all, a physical experience which you will never forget.

WHERE IS THE COSMOS

The Cosmos of the Black Hills is located in a secluded valley practically in the center of the Hills. Because of its central location it is easily reached as it is only six miles from Mt. Rushmore itself, and just a short distance off of highway sixteen between Mt. Rushmore and Rapid City. The map on the back of this pamphlet will locate the Cosmos exactly.

WHEN IS THE COSMOS OPEN

The Cosmos of the Black Hills is open during the tourist season from early morning until dusk. During that time a courteous guide will be on hand to conduct tours through the area, with a separate tour starting every fifteen minutes. Children under twelve are admitted free.

NOTE

The unusual variations in gravity, height, and perspective may be easily photographed with your camera. We invite you to bring it along for the strangest pictures of your entire trip.

Our attraction is guaranteed; if you are not satisfied that the Cosmos is one of the most unusual attractions you have ever seen, we will refund the price of admission.

Mailing Address:

COSMOS OF THE BLACK HILLS

Keystone, South Dakota"

( In the 1950's zip codes were not yet added on to addresses. I am certain that over the years the pamphlets have probably changed a bit...but the enticement to visit this most unusual place still undoubtedly draws many visitors each year.)

South Dakota Attractions

When our families visited South Dakota in the 1950's, the literal FEELING of visiting the Cosmos was one of the many remaining memories that we took away from vacationing in that scenic State.

One truthfully feels the effects of gravity in the most peculiar way and the senses are fooled by seemingly in-congruent things that make no sense in the ordinary world...like balls running uphill.

As one can tell from the postcard photos above, people do seem to lean in odd postures compared to looking at the walls, windows, chairs and usual orienting features of what one finds in a house.

Most people want to visit South Dakota to see sites like Mount Rushmore, Devil's Tower, The Corn Palace, free roaming buffalo, The Black Hills, Custer State Park and other attractions.

But...if nearby...one just might wish to add The Cosmos to that list of attractions as both of our families did many years ago.

Other mementos...

This TWO SPOOKS slip of paper was included in the mementos from the Black Hill's trip taken by my future mother-in-law and husband and my husband's uncle ( our marriage to take place some sixteen years later ) and reading the back of it brought back some memories of my own.

FREE MAPS & STICKERS...

Few "free" maps are given out these days!

And the "stickers"...ah yes!

Back in those days when one entered a State, the rest stop areas or in this case...a gas station, stickers were given away that could be attached to car windows or bumpers indicating that one had visited that State.

Stickers could also be acquired for other attractions like those at Mount Rushmore.

In effect...if was free advertising for the attractions and also for the States.

It became a source of pride to add another State sticker to one's automobile and to see how many stickers one could accumulate on one's car.

People generally kept their cars longer in those days, and people vacationed using their autos more then as opposed to airplane travel.

My family added several new State stickers to our station wagon when making that trek to South Dakota that year and we were all excited to see my Dad add each and every new sticker to adorn our car.

We had quite a few State Stickers amassed and would notice other cars who had seemingly traveled more than us when viewing the numbers collected on their vehicles.

There was always another vacation in the planning stages in which we could acquire more of those prized souvenirs of our travels.

Additional Vintage Postcards...

On the back of the vintage postcard above and below the following was written:

SWISS CHALETS MOTEL (AAA)

On Canyon Lake Drive and scenic Rim Rock Hiway. A haven under the trees, in an alpine setting. Delightfully cool and restful. Must be seen to be appreciated.

Mr. and Mrs. G. A. Harms, Prop's.

Rapid City, South Dakota Phone 1818

Espe Printing Co., Rapid City, S. D.

The reverse of this postcard above reads...

THE CHUCK WAGON

This replica of the old covered wagon is located at "The Chuck Wagon" cafe on Hiway 14-79 in Rapid City, So. Dak., where Ranch Style Food is served in an atmosphere of western hospitality.

Recommended by Duncan Hines

ART JONES and ROD PRICE, Proprietors

"ESPEPRINT" by Espe Printing Co., Rapid City, S. D. 

On the back of the postcard above can be read the following:

Our Motto

The Best for Convenience and Comfort At a Price You Can Afford to Pay

Cahill's Corner  -  On Highway U.S. 16  -  Kimball, South Dakota

Made in U.S.A. by E. C. Kropp Co., Milwaukee, Wis.---ABB

Posted on the back of the postcard above...

CAFE 16

Murdo, South Dakota

Western South Dakota's Finest Restaurant Located at the head of the old Texas Cattle Trail of the late 1800's.

Made in U.SlAl by E.C. Kropp Co., Milwaukee, Wis.---DDL

This Is An ECKCO-CHROME Reproduction 

Written on the back of the one above reads the following...

THE FRONTIER MUSEUM

Sylvan Lake, S. D.

Over 1000 things of the Frontier Days --- when Wild Bill, Calamity Jane, General Custer and a host of adventurers rode the Gold Trails into the Black Hills. 

Souvenir menu...

The Candlelight was a restaurant that my future mother-in-law and entourage frequented more than once while in Rapid City, South Dakota. My husband tells me that he remembers his mother having the same meal more than once...the Mountain Trout, two of them for $2.25. She loved trout and obviously it was well prepared and fresh at The Candlelight.

Take a look at the menu prices!

It will bring back memories for some readers who are old enough to remember those days and be an eye opener for those who were too young to have ever experienced food pricing such as this.

Looking at the old faded Kodacolor picture of that kid sitting on the fence while on vacation in South Dakota...whoever would have known that we were to meet years later and become husband and wife!

Hope you have enjoyed looking at these vintage postcards regarding the Cosmos and more from South Dakota in the 1950's.  It brought back great memories for me and it is also fun that my husband and I got to experience similar trips back in the same era.