When the Quiltfolk team set out to
explore the sweeping landscapes of South Dakota (or SoDak, if you’re in
the know), we had some expectations. We knew we were in for some epic
scenery, from expansive plains to the winding canyons of the Black Hills
to the spikes of the Badlands. We also knew we’d find a deep well of
history at the state capital in Pierre, with its trail of governors, and
at the Crazy Horse Memorial in Custer County, or in the Wild West town
of Deadwood. And we knew we’d find some interesting spots too. Who
doesn’t want to visit a Corn Palace in a land where corn reigns?
What
we didn’t expect was the wind. We had an idea of what it would be like,
sure. But we were traveling in June, so we thought it wouldn’t be too
intense, right? When we say we were “swept away” by South Dakota’s
beauty, we mean that pretty literally. We certainly aren’t lacking in
shots of quilts wafting in the breeze.
South Dakota officially
became a state in November 1889, simultaneously with North Dakota.
President Benjamin Harrison actually shuffled the statehood papers
before signing them, so no one could tell which became a state first.
However,
long before that moment, the Lakota and Dakota Sioux Native American
tribes inhabited the lands, eventually becoming the area’s dominant
population. It wasn’t until the late 19th century that European-American
settlement intensified after a gold rush in the Black Hills and the
construction of railroads from the east. Over the next several decades,
South Dakota would struggle through major events like the Wounded Knee
Massacre, the Dust Bowl, and of course, the Great Depression. Economic
stability returned when the US entered World War II, and demand for the
state’s agricultural and industrial products grew as the nation
mobilized for war. In recent years, South Dakota has been transformed
from a state dominated by agriculture to one with a more diversified
economy, thanks to the considerable growth of tourism.
The
state’s history is as unique and fascinating as its landscapes—and
unsurprisingly, so are its people, who you’re about to discover on our
pages. South Dakota has had many nicknames over the years, but our
favorite is probably “The Land of Plenty”: plenty of history, plenty of
views, and plenty of remarkable quilts and quiltmakers.
So come get swept away with us in the stunning state of South Dakota.
- Sprache Inhalt / Umverpackung
- Englisch
- Kollektion / Titelreihe
- Quiltfolk Nevada
- Hersteller / Verlag
- Quiltfolk