The World's Only Corn Palace

Saw the signs on the highwaywhen traveling through and decided to make a quick detour. Such a cool place. Loved seeing all the previous designs and the history of the palace. Bonus free admission. Great place to stop and take a quick stroll if you're traveling through.

Traveling across SD, and HAVE TO stop to see this year's murals. I've been here a few times and love it. Being Sunday, the interior was closed, but it's really the murals I want to see.

Yes, it's corny, but very interesting! The history behind this corn museum is "amazing!" 😉 Everybody that we spoke with prior to this trip, all said we needed to stop here! They were right! It's a sight for everybody to see and witness this piece of history they keep alive! The exterior is corn art, along with the murals on the interior! In addition, there's an auditorium with numerous upcoming live concerts! It's not a shabby lineup, in my opinion! There's also a very nice snack bar with all kinds of goodies! In the auditorium, there's an enormous gift shop that covers the basketball court area! Most impressive! There's so many visitors coming and going the entire time you're sightseeing! It's definitely a popular vacation stop! This building was first erected and decorated with corn in 1852! Enjoy the history and spread the news to others! Impressive!

Highly disappointed. My husband and I frequent museums, historical sites, and off the map places… we drove 6 hours for basically a small town auditorium. Parking and admission were free which was nice considering the Palace is not very interactive for children, no history of corn, harvesting, history… they did show a video in the auditorium on the score board but again lacked any true historical value. The murals are computer generated. Great way to pull people in… it is truly the epitome of a tourist trap. We definitely wouldn’t make a trip back here. But I will say our bag of pop corn was great.

I love stopping here. We stop every year when we go to Cody Wyoming. Although, this year we were late and the inside was closed. We did meet a family from Australia that was visiting it also, and another couple that had not seen it in 20 years.

This is always a fun stop. It's amazing how many ears of corn they stick on the outside of that building! If you enjoy popcorn balls, try one of their specialty varieties. The antique tractor inside the building makes for a nice photo opportunity. This would be an amazing place to visit next year when they decorate for America's 250th anniversary.

I like to visit this GEM of a roadside attraction every few years just to marvel at Marketing genius of the past. I was just passing through and thought I must see what was in the works for America 250. And I really like the design this year, a lot of thought and patriotism. Love it.

Only drove by and took pictures, always a different beautiful layout of corn . Highly recommend seeing the beautiful outside every year!

Was driving thru Mitchell, SD and saw signs for the Corn Palace. Had no idea what to expect. We did have an RV with us and luckily they had parking. Always a worry for me. It was very quiet, not a lot of action maybe because it was in the middle of the week. The outside is covered in corn murals which were fascinating. They change the murals every year. The inside had two concession stands and one was open serving snacks and of course popcorn. The Theater section was closed as they were remodeling and putting in new seats. We read somewhere that Elvis Presley had performed here many years ago. There are stores around the area as well as a few places to eat. Not sure that I would ever come back, but at least I can say that I visited the corn Palace in South Dakota. Come see it for yourself.

A friend told me about this place, so while traveling from western SD to Sioux Falls, I decided to stop in at Mitchell. I had expectations of what this place might be, and none of that was accurate, which is okay. Essentially this is a small-medium concert & basketball arena, wonderfully decorated with different varieties of corn on the outside to form pictures. Every year, the designs on the panels outside change. In 2025, the panels depicted Wonders of the World, all using "corn by numbers" which is super cute. There is a snack bar with freshly popped popcorn (what else), as well as sodas and other snacks on the left when you enter. The gift shop is across the street from the Palace, as is a courtyard surrounded by shops. On the day I was there, someone was singing in that courtyard, which was nice. I was happy I went to see this unique place, and if you are in the area, you should stop to take it all in. Enjoy!

Saw multiple signs for the Corn Palace as we are making our way across the country and decided it would be a fun unplanned stop. As soon as you walk in, there's a little concession area to the left (selling popcorn, corn nuts, beef jerky, candy, soda, I believe some hot foods etc.). Inside the first floor is just an auditorium where there are many cute/corny things to buy such as t shirts, cups, toys, magnets, etc. There are murals inside and outside made of corn husks which were pretty impressive. There's a short 8-10 minute video they play and then have a free short tour after if you'd like to know more about the building and what they use it for! Overall a fun unplanned trip to grab a bag of popcorn and stretch your legs!

With over 250 reviews on Yelp, this one was difficult to gauge, but I thought I'd give it a try. It wasn't worth the stop. The exterior is interesting and the birds that I saw eating it, were definitely enjoying it. However, that's about it. I was so confused when I went inside and there was some sort of volleyball game going on. This is just an auditorium that this town uses where they decorate the outside annually. They have photos of years past and of course they sell a few things inside but there's really nothing to see. It's confusing and disappointing all at once.

I came here once growing up, so the Corn Palace ended up on our list for place to go during our trip. The outside was as cool as I remember. Beautiful corn murals on the building, fun corn statue for a photo op, and the building itself is just cool looking. As soon as you walk inside the smell of popcorn overwhelms you a bit, especially if you are easily overstimulated like I am. You'd think with the smell, combined with the fact this is the corn palace, their popcorn would be fantastic. However, that thought would be incorrect as it was middle of the road popcorn. Better than the cinema but not as good as a specialty place. My favorite part of the Corn Palace had to be the area where you can feel the corn they use for the murals and all the photos of past years displays. The corn used for the murals is all from one farmer, which is a neat little factoid. Also as an avid road-tripper, one of my favorite things is penny presses. They had more than one so that was a nice little extra too. There is also an event space, which I didn't really get to see them during an event, but I can see how it would be kinda cool to see a concert here or something. When an event isn't happening, they keep the souvenirs in that area. I ended up purchasing 2 corn hats (one for each of my nephews) and a snow globe for my best friend. I'm sure they will be excited about such corny gifts. The photo ops are fun if you have kids or have people who want to see photos when you come home. If you are wanting to get out of the car and walk around, it is free. Overall, this spot is definitely tourist trap territory, but I wouldn't avoid it if you like unique art or have a special interest involving food/corn. I know I went to the National Mustard Museum a few days earlier just because I'm obsessed with mustard, so stopping here is kind of a "listen to your heart" kind of place

Corn Palace with your over the top signage that is reminiscent of the Wall Drug signs and the Burma Shave Signs of yesteryear. A very interesting roadside attraction. Your signage/advertising worked, you got us to stop.

Never in your life have you seen so many corny puns, shirts, hats, and anything that will hold still long enough to stamp a slogan onto! This place is amazing! To conceptualize making huge murals out of nothing more than corn on the cob and a few staples... I can't imagine. There's really not a lot to draw on here: There's a walking tour that has panels describing the Corn Palace's history back into the 19th century, with several photos. There's also a guided tour and I must say: My tour guide was a deep fountain of knowledge! Beyond the murals the The main things seem to be 1) The "Gift Shop," which features more corn- and corn-humor-based kitsch than you can possibly imagine. And 2) The Snack Bar which is significantly slanted (wait for it) in the direction of corn-based snacks. Caramel Corn; Kettle Corn; Cheesy Corn; Corn Balls; Popcorn... And drinks to wash it all down. They also have a limited selection of dogs and sandwiches, so there are some options, but I wouldn't make my dinner plans here. (Very reasonably priced, too! ) I've driven past Mitchell a dozen times and always wondered about the World's Only Corn Palace and now I know.

We took a trip to SD and this was one of our stops. Had to see the corn palace! Love that college students design and build a new design every year and they use many different types of corn and the stalk, the cob, the grain to make the designs. It really was a great place to visit. My husbands from Iowa the corn capital so he had to see it.

No idea where my SO found thisnplace but this was a fun spot to visit. We were asked to sign their guest book and the receptionist said she thinks we arw the first to visit from RI. Little Rhody representing! the building is currently used year'round as their event auditorium hosting college & high school sports, bull riding, banquets and more. A corn palace has been a SD feature since the 1800's. The side walls of the main hall leading into the auditorium includes a timeline history of the corn palace. 1800's - 60's on the left, 70's - 2010's on the right. Very interesting. Upstairs is an art gallery with drawings of some murals from previous years, decorative corn shaped pottery and photos of the building through the years beginning in 1902. Definitely worth a stop. We stayed about one and a half hours but you can easily visit in less time if you are in a hurry. Murals are on the front and right side of the building. The right side has a piazza type area with plants and information about the area. The corn palace is right in town so plenty to do if you want to take a walk around, shop, get a bite to eat. Very cute town. Definitely worth the stop.

all about corn ! Nice experience on the rooftop, but i feel there should be more to it ! There is not much to see inside, most of the art is the building itself.

Based on reviews I had read online, I was expecting a quirky tourist trap but it was not even close. My daughter and I love the World's Only Corn Palace and can't wait for a return visit. The World's Only Corn Palace is a museum, arena, and art gallery all rolled into one. The murals in the arena and on the exterior of the building are one-of-a-kind pieces of work. The murals are crafted from different color corn, variety of grains, and grasses. The theme this year is famous people of South Dakota. Make sure to visit the gift shop. We were drawn to the corny hoodie for the teenager, the miniature ears of corn for the little ones, Christmas corn ornaments, and books. Be careful! The young clerk knew how to upsell.

Cool concept and the murals are great but it is basically just a gift shop. A short detour on the way to or from the Black Hills.

Something to see in Michell, SD. Cool photo op outside on the balcony. Highly recommend, it's free to visit!

THE CORN PALACE! Someone sent me a postcard from the Corn Palace at least a decade ago and I decided then and there that one day I would visit it myself. That day finally came! Over my spring break I flew to South Dakota, just to see the Corn Palace. I drove to Mitchell from Rapid City and back, all in one day. I think it is an amazing example of Folk Art. Made by community members for community members, and showcasing what makes Mitchell and South Dakota special. This year, the theme is Famous South Dakotans. I recognized a few of them, but would love a list of all of the people in the images. I love the history of the place and you can read all about it inside, to the left of the concessions stand. The pillars that look like corn cobs is chef's kiss! Don't forget to stop by the gift shop across the street! Grab some postcards, maybe you'll inspire someone's future trip!

It is what is says it is, and doesn't strive to be more. The corn palace is a fun attraction to stop at for a bit if you're driving through the area. The corn murals outside the building change over time, and are impressive. Inside, there's a bit of history about the corn palace and, more interesting to me, pictures from of the corn palace over the years so you can see how it has changed.

Cool to look at, but not something I would probably go back to. Inside is just a giant gift shop, but my kids thought all the corn was kind of cool.

It's a fun stop if you're looking for roadside oddities. They change the art every year. They usually have a small shop in the middle and shops around the outside. It's fun to just learn about the history and see the art.

Do the quick tour, it is free and donate a few bucks to keep this amazing local corn palace running for another 100 plus years. The exterior changes annually and 2025 is Wonders of the World. Corny gifts and other nice souvenirs in the shop on the ball court, it is great this is used for local concerts, basketball games and graduations. Worth a visit.

A touristy attraction, for sure, and not all that cool, in my opinion. All that's here is a gift shop on the basketball court and a "museum" along two walls. And honestly, who wants to read a bunch of newspaper articles and pages and pages of information. I don't. The corn art is mostly on the outside, which is nice to look at and changes every year. Other than that, it's really just a gymasium.

If you're traveling through South Dakota, you've got to see the Corn Palace! It's been a staple for over 100 years! There's a ton of history here as well as a venue for all kinds of events. Well worth the visit!

It was a quick stop here. The Corn Palace is cool. In some areas it appears the outside is made with corn stocks & is Circus themed-which I hear changes themes every year! The inside shows pictures of how the Palace looked in 1907, 1915 & a few other years. You can read about the history. There's a huge gift shop in the center auditorium. When cleared out it can be used for high school basketball games! There are a few souvenir shops you can stop in across the street. We stayed for lunch-which is on another review! This is a good place to stop if you're traveling across country-stretch your legs & get back on the road!

After hearing about Corn Palace for years I had to stop. And honestly, I expected more. People talk this place up like it's one of the best tourist destinations in the Midwest but upon arrival, we were completely underwhelmed. That is on us those we should've tempered our expectations. Corn palace is basically a gymnasium that has an exterior of the building almost completely made of corn. The murals change, yearly, and are an interesting sight to see but once you get inside, there's not much else. They have stadium concessions, Corn tourist souvenirs and a lot of history. You can kill some time walking on the outside corridor and reading about the history of the building, which is pretty interesting. Other than stopping to say, you've see. It there isn't much there and you might be left saying "that's it?"

The Corn Palace is a legend that still remains a legend, just not the legend we had in our heads!! We've become a bit of a couple of history buffs since we started traveling so the history alone is what makes this stop completely worth it! We read all the reading, gazed upon the walls and photos and imagined the earliest days during the festivals! Knowing the corn cobs are changed out nearly every year is mind blowing!! The murals are amazing and the themes are very well done. Other than that, they've created a souvenir store, that's pretty much what the palace is now. It said there were tours but we never saw one or heard one, we figured it must be the video playing on the monitors. The basketball court is used by high school players according to the overhead speaker, but other than that, not sure what this historical building is used for! We left a little underwhelmed but also very glad we were able to check it off our Travel Journey list! It's a neat place to see and imagine in it's glory days!

Enjoy this neatly lit up building. Unfortunately, they closed early and I could not get in. Free admission. It's pretty corny, no pun intended. But, if you were in the Mitchell South Dakota area it's a must see.

What a random crazy place we stumbled upon on our cross country roadtrip! Just -- GO!!! If you love Americana, weird, unique places this place is for you! The art on the outside all made from corn is out of this world. The history and information inside is amazing- I wish we had had more time to spend!

Passing through stopped to see this place. If you like corn this is your place to be. A few shops around the area selling memorabilia, but I wished there was more corn drinks and food being a "corn" attraction. I expected more. Besides the actual palace/building made/decorated with corn and the history of corn posted up on the inner walls of the building there isn't much to do here and quite frankly was a little disappointed. Most of the shops around the area were closed as well.

Great spot for family and kids! So much history along the walls. You get to see every past years theme. They have a gift shop inside on the court floor. Don't forgot to go up the stairs and walk on their balcony. It is "corny" but it's a piece of Mitchell history. I bought some kernels to pop back home and gift to family. Please visit!!!

One of the fun things about going on a road trip are the little side adventures so being from Indiana and seeing the ONLY Corn Palace in the world we had to stop! It was built in 1892 to celebrate South Dakota's healthy agriculture climate. The Corn Palace that stands today is the third iteration built in 1921. The sides of the building are decorated with murals made from 12 different colors or shades of corn red, brown, black, blue, white, orange, calico, yellow and 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. It's a free attraction and a must see!

What's there to say? I arrived at the Corn Palace and, after driving around, decided to stop and at least see if I could go in and use the restroom. Are the murals impressive? Sure! When I visited (2022) the theme was Under the Big Top. I appreciated that I could wander around inside without having to pay any sort of entry fee. I used the restroom (it had been a long day of driving) and went into the auditorium area where it looked like a shop had been set-up on the basketball court. It's hard to envision how a show on the stage or even a basketball game would look like. Plenty of photo ops and good opportunities to learn about the history of the building and the agriculture in the area. In total, I probably spent 10 minutes at the Corn Palace.

It was a surprisingly fun stop while traveling! There were a lot of campers and RVs there but ample parking for them along with cars. I enjoyed all the corny gift items that can be purchased. The store covers the basketball floor in the palace. And, the corn murals were amazing! We got a corn dog for lunch before we left. There were a lot of postcards of The Corn Palace featuring different, prior years, but there was no 2024! This was a let down.

A neat, "I've seen that!" type of attraction! Not a ton to do here except do a guided tour, check out the corn art, and buy a souvenir. If you're in the area, it's definitely worth checking out and say you've been there. Plus, it's all free!

Worth going to once to know what people are talking about when the mention the corn palace and a good place to stretch your legs of driving on a road trip. I would only plan on being there for 30 minutes unless you are really into looking at murals made of corn. We did a self guided tour and found it mildly interesting.

What is the deal with this place? When I see the word museum, I'm thinking somewhat curated. I'm not looking for the Met. The outside is fabulous, and gives the impression of the wonders that await inside. And then...nothing. It's a big gymnasium/auditorium/multipurpose room. Nice chronological picture display of each year's outside design. Some cute corn-related knickknacks in a curio cabinet but no story about what they are, age, potter, etc... If corn is so important to this area, where's all the corn stuff? I wanted corn- themed foods (at least some roasted corn on the cob!), corn fridge magnet or Christmas ornament, something commemorative of my stay in SD and the corn!!! Very disappointing.

This was a little underwhelming. I was expecting more, but it was still beautiful and informative. The interior has a linear diagram of the history of the Corn Palace which was very interesting. The outside was being redone the day we went, but you could still see the beauty of the side of the palace. The town itself is so nice and beautiful. Definitely worth the trip.

This is a roadside attraction that wasn't as cool in person as it was in my mind... it's basically a newer looking brick building with corn glued on the outside. Really nothing cool about it other than some nice souvenirs...

A must see it's the only one in the Whole Wide WORLD. I've been here 4 times in my life. Will return again when traveling.

FREE. Pets Welcome. If you go on the balcony, your friends and family can head to a website to see you!

I did not know what to expect. This is a show/sports venue dating back to the 30's. They redo the corncob mural exterior annually at a high expense. Many music stars have played here. It s nice to see the mural art but that's pretty much the extent of it.

Family vacation 2021...bringing the California variant of COVID-19 to your city. The Corn Palace...It was free. There wasn't much to look at. The murals are located outside. Inside wasn't much to look at. It is basically an arena inside. When there aren't any events going on, they set up the floor as corn palace souvenir shop. There is also another souvenir shop across the street. The bathrooms must've been clean because my wife didn't complain after using it. If I knew it was so far away from Interstate 90, I would have second thoughts about visit it again. Other than that, it was an okay place to visit.

One of Mitchell, South Dakota number one tourist attraction is the Corn Palace. Practically the only thing that is the most weird ever landmark ever ever ever. At least on the outside. First impressions was that it looked like part of the design was inspired by the Kremlin in Russia. It just looks like that on the outside when I saw it in person. It looks like it has seen better days from the outside, but everything else talks, practically modern inside, especially with the nice basketball arena that my friend and I had to walk on the floor. The corn Palace is one of a kind, as I've been towed. We got to read the entire history of the corn Palace to informational signage inside dating back to the 1800s. The Corn Palace is used for local high school basketball games and various area functions with the high schools. My friend and I came here around 2:45 PM on a Sunday afternoon. I was tired from running a marathon in Lennox, but after lunch at Arby's nearby, I was feeling little better to go sightseeing for the rest of the day. My friend and I spent about an hour here looking around and getting a feel for what the corn Palace is all about. It didn't really take long to circle the building and see everything, so we decided to read the informational signage to get a better idea of how this building became an important landmark for the area. Come to find out that some important individuals have come out of the Mitchell Sioux Falls area, and made it into the NBA and the Olympics. Definitely inspiring for sure. The overall experience here at the Corn Palace in Mitchell, South Dakota was definitely interesting. I did not know that this place was used as a sporting venue until I step foot in it physically, and saw their basketball arena. There was an interesting place to visit with a name like corn Palace, I thought it was something else entirely. But then again, Madison Square Garden in New York City has a similar name but it's not really a garden either. Similar similar, but different. For the most part, though, my experience here at ye Corn Palace was okay and decent despite what I read on TripAdvisor online prior to my arriving here to South Dakota on Labor Day weekend 2023. While it is probably the only tourist attraction that's basically the only thing to do in Mitchell, it's probably a best place to hang out on a Friday or Saturday night for high school basketball games with the locals. However, if you are a tourist, like me, one has to think that it's something you're interested in or not based on your preference is in what you think is cool while you here in Mitchell, South Dakota. On the bright side, though, there is restroom facilities here so if you need to go you can. It's air condition, so it's a nice break from the heat if you are here in the summertime, I would like to recommend it but of course it's practically the only thing to see here in Mitchell, South Dakota. I'm pretty sure it's one of those places where you gotta see anyway if you're here in the area. The Corn Palace is located at 604 N Main Street in Mitchell, South Dakota. When you arrive, it is practically the most unique landmark out there and nicest putting it lightly. They do not charge admission for just being in the building for tourists, so that's nice. I'm sure that the charge anything for you for those high school basketball games. But thankfully, as a tourist, you don't need to dig out money unless you are going to make a donation. My friend and I spent about 45 minutes here before we head out. It was an interesting experience for sure. As far as parking goes, yes, plenty of space. Try to find parking in residential areas around corn Palace or in the metered parking next to the site. I'm not sure if there is public transportation locally in Mitchell, South Dakota, but best bet is to grab a rental car or find an Uber/Lyft to meet your needs. It's very unique building here and I feel like it's seen better days. But the inside looks pretty nice as mentioned above. You may be happy to see it or not. I myself thinking it was a good productive time to see the sights of Mitchell, South Dakota, but I would not spend too much time here since we circled the building twice inside and out before leaving. 3.5 stars for the overall experience. Although being 5.0 stars for being free, it was just okay. Support local! C

Not to be corny but this place is amazing! All ears now? Seriously I was traveling to Mitchell to visit my parents and the opportunity came up to visit the Corn Palace. I was a little hesitant. As soon as I pulled up the epic pictures and coordinated theme pulled me in. I loved all the pictures formed by corn and up close crazy to see the material and curious how it is actually built. I saw that it was free to go in so we headed in and read all the descriptions on the wall and deep history of the Corn Palace. It can be a short visit but if interested in the themes throughout the years and all the different people and artists who have been part of the vision and history. Check it out and remember the theme changes each year so gives you reason to visit it over time. What was your favorite part that popped for you, I'm all ears?

For sure one of the corniest places I've ever been... yep, I went there! The Corn Palace is exactly the kind of place that belongs in the Midwest, and I absolutely love it. I was born in Rapid City (which is a few hours away from Mitchell) and have heard a lot about the Corn Palace but only recently finally went to see it. And I just can't believe I never visited before, it's such a South Dakota charmer! There's so much history behind it.. you can read inside about the creator of all the corn murals and how they still create new ones from year to year. It's truly fascinating stuff! There's also a wall that has pictures every year of the Palace from as far back as the 1870s, I mean how crazy?! Super fun. If you happen to be driving through middle of nowhere SD and need to stop somewhere and stretch your legs Mitchell is a great option, and a must to see the Corn Palace if you do decide!

Interesting stop with a huge corn-related gift shop. The interior columns are tiled with corn colored tiles. It's clever.

Great stopping point on a road trip East or West depending on where you're coming from. Free entry and lots of informative plaques. Very corny as you will see upon entering or looking through a side window, but definitely good to see for a first time visit. They were setting up for a meeting and popping popcorn at 8:00AM! The exterior was neat with the corn designs. They were actually working on (dis)mantling one that morning when I was there. At dawn it's beautiful with the husk glowing purple (or other colors as it shifts throughout). There is a free parking lot that is a little bit tricky to locate. Pay attention to the road signs. It's a bit behind and one block away from the Corn Palace itself. Bathrooms are a plus too! (for road trippers) There's a second floor with featured work from an artist and it's a nice eye-breaker from the rolling farmlands whilst traveling across I-90! Happy Visits!

Fun place to check out. A ton of work goes into transforming the outside of the corn palace into beautiful works art every single year. Had saw a PBS special about the Corn Palace years ago and totally forgot about it. Glad we saw the billboard while we were headed west to the Badlands. Was great to take a break and stretch our legs and take in the folk art and learn a little more history of the Palace. So if your headed west take a break and stop by Mitchell SD and enjoy the hard work of others. Psssssst! You can stop in if your headed east too!!!

I am such a junkie for museums. Love the history of the place. Really neat place to go, love the murals. Gift shop was a really cool arena design. Stuffed buffaloes are so cute! Popcorn balls are delicious!

Sure it's not a destination but it is definitely worth the stop as you tour the plains states. The World's only Corn Palace has served Mitchell since 1892 for an assortment of functions to this day. The Palace murals are redecorated each year, very intricate and made out of ALL corn with the color scheme representing the theme for the year. Entry is free. Concessions, restrooms, and a entire gymnasium-sized gift shop are available. Street Parking. Restaurants within walking distance. The Palace appears to be the pride and joy of Mitchell and is worth a visit.

A friend told me "if you're in the area, go see it, there's no other corn palace." Well we were in the area. We saw it. There's no other corn palace. The popcorn they sell was REALLY good. And hilariously my kid grabbed a seat for the basketball game (there wasn't anyone there playing, he just saw the hoops and assumed).

Oh this place is so beautiful. It was recommended to me by some friends online while i was visiting Badlands national park. It so exciting to know that they change the decor every year and everything is decorated with corn and corn husk. They have alot of exhibit but ONLY thing i didnt like was they do not serve steamed and fresh corn on the cob. But its a must visit