South Dakota vacation rentals are a great place to stay while you see this unique state. Its lands have been inhabited by humans for thousands of years, and the first hunter-gatherers came and went by 5000 BCE.

Between the years 500 and 800, people now known only as the “mound builders” made the area their home. By the early 19th century, the Sioux Native Americans had taken up residence.

Mount Rushmore is South Dakota’s iconic tourist destination. Construction of its famous sculpture started in 1927 and continued until 1941. 400 workers were needed to do the labor. Interestingly, its well-known appearance is because of a lack of funding: original plans called for each president to be shown down to the waist, but budget cuts forced the work to stop at the heads.

The tiny city of Deadwood is another stop worth making. This “boom town” was born after the discovery of gold in the area led to the Black Hills Gold Rush. The city became an icon of the Wild West that has now appeared in many movies. In 1961, the entire town was designated a National Historic Landmark.

Geographically, the state is very unique. It includes the Badlands National Park, an area so alien-looking that it has been a setting for both cartoons and science-fiction movies. The Black Hills are forested and great for nature lovers. Enjoying the landscape by driving or hiking is a great way to top off your trip to South Dakota.