Corn Palace, Mitchell, South Dakota

On Saturday we left Ellsworth AFB Famcamp and drove to Mitchell, South Dakota.  After we got parked we drove into town to see The World's Only Corn Palace. The first corn palace  was built in 1892. The present building was completed in 1921. The Palace is redecorated each year with naturally colored corn and other grains and native grasses. They use 13 different colors or shades of corn to decorate the Corn Palace: red, brown, black, blue, white, orange, calico, yellow and now they have green corn! A different theme is chosen each year, and murals are designed to reflect that theme. Ear by ear the corn is nailed to the Corn Palace to create a scene. The decorating process usually starts in late May with the removal of the rye and dock. The corn murals are stripped at the end of August and the new ones are completed by the first of October. The Corn Palace serves as a multi-use center for the community and region. The facility hosts stage shows, as well as sports events in its arena.