South Dakota Trivia & Tidbits - Page 5

Looking for South Dakota trivia? Try our list South Dakota little know facts, tidbits and trivia.

Established in 1928 by Art B. Thomas in Lennox (pop. 2,037), Thomas Carnival Inc. continues to light up towns across America. Some of the founder's descendants operate the carnival, which today is based in Austin, Texas.

first appeared: 7/2/2006

Jewel Cave near Custer (pop. 1,860) is the world's second longest cave. Spelunkers spent four days underground in January and explored an additional 3,700 feet, bringing the cave's total explored length to 135 miles and 10 feet.

first appeared: 6/25/2006

At 7,076 feet, Terry Peak ski area in the Black Hills near Lead (pop. 3,027) features one of the highest elevations east of the Rocky Mountains, plus a 1,100-foot vertical drop and 400 acres of ski terrain.

first appeared: 6/4/2006

The Black Hills Playhouse in Custer State Park near Custer (pop. 1,860) is located at a 1930s Civilian Conservation Corps camp. The camp was converted to a playhouse in the 1940s and a theater was built in 1955.

first appeared: 5/21/2006

On June 9, 1972, more than 10 inches of rain fell in a 60-square-mile region around Rapid City, causing flash flooding of Rapid Creek and other streams and killing 238 people and injuring 3,057.

first appeared: 5/14/2006

Housed at Sioux Valley Hospital in Sioux Falls, the Sioux Empire Medical Museum offers visitors a dose of medical history beginning with the early 1900s. Nursing uniforms, equipment and photographs depict changes and medical advancements.

first appeared: 4/23/2006

The T-28, an armored research plane able to penetrate hailstorms, is operated by the Institute of Atmospheric Sciences at the South Dakota School of Mines and Technology in Rapid City (pop. 59,607).

first appeared: 4/9/2006

Buffalo, bighorn sheep, prairie dogs and "begging" burros may be encountered while driving along the open grasslands and rolling hills of the 18-mile Wildlife Loop State Scenic Byway in Custer State Park in Custer (pop. 1,860).

first appeared: 3/26/2006

In 1935, the Army Air Corps and the National Geographic Society launched the Explorer II manned balloon from a 500-foot hollow, which became known as the Stratobowl, near Rapid City (pop. 59,607). Explorer II gathered information that paved the way for the space program.

first appeared: 3/12/2006

The Gordon Stockade at Custer State Park in Custer (pop. 1,860) is a replica of the 1874 log enclosure and cabins built by John Gordon and his party of gold seekers to the Black Hills.

first appeared: 2/26/2006

Summerset, a new housing development between Rapid City and Sturgis (pop. 6,442), is the state’s newest city. It was incorporated last June in Meade County (pop. 24,253) and has 365 homes.

first appeared: 2/12/2006

Opened in 1881 by George G. Rude, Rude’s Home Furnishings in Brookings (pop. 18,504) is believed to be the state’s oldest furniture store. A fourth generation operates the store, one of the state’s oldest family businesses.

first appeared: 1/29/2006

Marvin Miller, who is deaf, is building a town for deaf people and hearing people who use sign language near Salem (pop. 1,371). The town, Laurent, is named after Laurent Clerc, who co-founded the nation’s first school for deaf people in 1817.

first appeared: 1/15/2006

MISS SOUTH DAKOTA 2006—Nikki Grandpre of Pierre is pursuing her doctorate in pharmacy at Creighton University in Omaha, Neb. She’s also involved in the creation of South Dakota’s award-winning Internet Crimes Against Children task force.

first appeared: 1/8/2006

The Akta Lakota Museum and Cultural Center, located on the campus of St. Joseph’s Indian School in Chamberlain (pop. 2,338), showcases Sioux history and sells arts and crafts made by area American Indian artists.

first appeared: 1/1/2006

The Turner County Fair in Parker (pop. 1,031) celebrated its 125th anniversary in August and has the distinction of being the state’s oldest county fair. The gathering existed nine years before statehood in 1889.

first appeared: 12/18/2005

A sod house, log cabin and bank are among 40 restored buildings at Prairie Village in Madison (pop. 6,540), a pioneer museum.

first appeared: 12/4/2005

Nat Love (1854-1921), a former slave born in Tennessee, won roping and shooting competitions in Deadwood (pop. 1,380) in 1876 and became known as "Deadwood Dick."

first appeared: 11/20/2005

In 1935, 15 men gathered in E.J. Manning’s store in Burbank, near Vermillion (pop. 9,765), to organize the Fairview Electric Association, the state’s first rural electric cooperative.

first appeared: 11/6/2005

The state’s oldest church, the Renner Lutheran Church near Sioux Falls, was chartered by Norwegian immigrants in 1868 as the Nidaros Lutheran Church. Prairie winds blew down the congregation’s original building, which had a 100-foot steeple.

first appeared: 10/23/2005

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