Corn Palace

{{Short description|Multi-purpose venue in Mitchell, South Dakota}}

{{Infobox building

| name = Corn Palace

| image = CornPalace.jpg

| caption = The Corn Palace exterior in 2020

| groundbreaking_date = 1891-92

| completion_date = 1921 (dome and minarets added in 1937)

| building_type = Multi-purpose arena/facility

| address = 604 North Main Street, Mitchell, South Dakota, U.S.

| coordinates = {{coord|43.714644|-98.026019|region:US-SD|display=inline,title}}

| roof = {{convert|20.7|m|ft|abbr=on}} (dome)

| antenna_spire = {{convert|26.2|m|ft|abbr=on}} (flagpole)

| floor_count = 2

| floor_area = {{convert|4042.2|m2|sqft|abbr=on}}

| architect = Rapp & Rapp

| owner = City of Mitchell

| operator = City of Mitchell

| current_tenants = Mitchell HS Kernels (SDHSAA Basketball)

Dakota Wesleyan University Tigers (NAIA Basketball)

| seating_capacity = Basketball: 3,200{{cite web| title=Quick Facts| url=http://www.dwuathletics.com/tiger-information/quick-facts/| website=Dakota Wesleyan University| access-date=2013-06-13| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130305112032/http://www.dwuathletics.com/tiger-information/quick-facts/| archive-date=2013-03-05| url-status=dead}}

Concerts: 3,250{{cite web|title=Rates & Capacity - World's Only Corn Palace|url=https://cornpalace.com/152/Rates-Capacity|website=cornpalace.com|access-date=2024-02-29}}

}}

The Corn Palace, commonly advertised as The World's Only Corn Palace and the Mitchell Corn Palace, is a multi-purpose arena/facility located in Mitchell, South Dakota, United States. The Moorish Revival building is decorated with crop art; the murals and designs covering the building are made from corn and other grains, and a new design is constructed each year. The Corn Palace is a popular tourist destination, visited by up to 500,000 people each year.{{cite web|title=Corn Palace History |website=City of Mitchell |url=http://www.cityofmitchell.org/palace/rent.htm |access-date=2007-10-15 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070929180750/http://www.cityofmitchell.org/palace/rent.htm |archive-date=2007-09-29 |url-status=dead}}

The Corn Palace serves the community as a venue for concerts, sports events, exhibits and other community events. Each year, the Corn Palace is celebrated with a citywide festival, the Corn Palace Festival. Historically it was held at harvest time in September, but recently it has been held at the end of August. Other popular annual events include the Corn Palace Stampede Rodeo in July and the Corn Palace Polka Festival in September. It is also home to the Dakota Wesleyan University Tigers and the Mitchell High School Kernels basketball teams.

History

In the late 19th century, a number of cities on the Great Plains constructed "crop palaces" (also known as "grain palaces") to promote themselves and their products. As the idea succeeded, it spread, including: a Corn Palace in Sioux City, Iowa, that was active from 1887–1891; a Corn Palace in Gregory, South Dakota; a Grain Palace in Plankinton, South Dakota; and a Bluegrass Palace in Creston, Iowa.[http://www.roadsideamerica.com/story/2215 Corn Palace, Mitchell, South Dakota], RoadsideAmerica.com; accessed 2016-06-28. From 1887 to 1930, at least thirty-four corn palaces were built across the Midwest United States; only the Mitchell Corn Palace has remained intact.{{cite news |last1=Tonneson |first1=Lon |title=Mitchell Corn Palace celebrates prairie agriculture |url=https://www.farmprogress.com/farm-life/mitchell-corn-palace-celebrates-prairie-agriculture |access-date=2020-07-19 |work=Dakota Farmer |date=2019-09-16}}

The original Mitchell Corn Palace (known as "The Corn Belt Exposition") was built in 1892 to showcase the rich soil of South Dakota and encourage people to settle in the area. It was a wooden castle structure on Mitchell's Main Street, constructed on land donated by Louis Beckwith, a member of the First Corn Palace Committee.{{cite book| last=Cerney| first=Jan| title=Images of America: Mitchell's Corn Palace| url=https://books.google.com/books?id=5U8OyzvUoqIC&q=Images+of+America:+Mitchell%27s+Corn+Palace| location=Charleston, SC| publisher=Arcadia Publishing| year=2004| isbn=978-0738532578}} In 1904–1905, the city of Mitchell mounted a challenge to the city of Pierre in an unsuccessful attempt to replace it as the state capital of South Dakota. As part of this effort, the Corn Palace was rebuilt in 1905. In 1921, the Corn Palace was rebuilt once again, with a design by the architectural firm Rapp and Rapp of Chicago. Russian-style onion domes and Moorish minarets were added in 1937, giving the Palace the distinctive appearance that it has today.

In 2004, national media attention was drawn to the Corn Palace, when it received Homeland Security funding. This drew criticism of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and its grant program.{{cite news |last1=Celeste |first1=Calvitto |title=Homeland Security: South Dakota-style |url=https://rapidcityjournal.com/news/local/homeland-security-south-dakota-style/article_2bfbc6ad-a860-5eaf-bafe-a4c52ed42694.html |access-date=2020-07-19 |work=Rapid City Journal |date=2005-09-20}} In 2007, the Corn Palace subsequently received $25,000 in DHS funding for a camera system useful for purposes including Barack Obama's visit in 2008, and as reported by the Mitchell Daily Republic, to protect a "new Fiberglass statue of the Corn Palace mascot Cornelius" in 2009.{{cite news |last1=Tupper |first1=Seth |title=Corn Palace outfitted with video surveillance system |url=https://www.mitchellrepublic.com/news/1508891-corn-palace-outfitted-video-surveillance-system |access-date=2020-07-19 |work=Mitchell Republic |date=2007-10-24}} This statue sits across Main Street, west of the Corn Palace.

The Palace's domes were renovated in 2015 after shaking in strong winds.{{cite news |url=http://www.ksfy.com/home/headlines/Mitchell-officials-seek-assurance-on-new-Corn-Palace-domes-304400391.html |newspaper=KSFY News |title=Mitchell officials seek assurance on new Corn Palace domes |agency=Associated Press |date=May 20, 2015 |access-date=May 27, 2015}} The new turrets are made of architectural metals.{{cite news |url=http://www.mitchellrepublic.com/news/local/3808120-builder-corn-palace-domes-proud-says-criticism-delays-isnt-fair |newspaper=Mitchell Daily Republic |last=Traxler |first=Marcus |date=June 30, 2015 |access-date=August 1, 2015 |title=Builder of Corn Palace domes proud, says criticism on delays isn't fair |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150802005009/http://www.mitchellrepublic.com/news/local/3808120-builder-corn-palace-domes-proud-says-criticism-delays-isnt-fair |archive-date=August 2, 2015 |url-status=dead }}

Mural construction

The exterior corn murals are replaced and redesigned each year with a new theme, with designs created by local artists. From 1948 to 1971, the South-Dakota born Native American artist Oscar Howe designed the panels. See “Corn Palace Festival Swings into Stride,” Lead (SD) Daily Call, 22 September 1948, 3; “Corn Palace Being Decorated by Howe,” The Daily Plainsman (Huron, SD), 14 September 1949, 1; “Grain Decorations to be on Palace by September 1,” The Daily Republic (Mitchell, SD), 24 August 1951, 3; “Redecoration of Corn Palace Underway; Boxoffice Now Open,” The Daily Republic, 1 August 1952, 3; “AAUW Sponsors Art Exhibit at Ruby Ann Shop,” The Daily Republic (Mitchell, SD), 9 July 1953, 6 (Howe “for the past five years”); Camille Yuill, “The Backlog.” Deadwood (SD) Pioneer-Times, 24 September 1954, 4; Leonard Jenneweis, “Oscar Howe’s Name Must Be Added to Those of Great Indian Artists,” The Daily Plainsman, 21 August 1955, 12; “Mitchell Corn Palace Has Colorful History; First Show Given in 1892,” The Huronite and The Daily Plainsman (Huron, SD), 16 September 1956, 10; “Noted Sioux Indian Artist to Show Work at Lead Exhibit,” Deadwood (SD) Pioneer-Times, 4 April 1957, 6; “Oscar Howe to be Honored at Denver Show,” The Daily Republic, 7 May 1958, 3; “Head ‘Pea Picker’ is ‘Nailed’ to Palace Wall,” The Daily Republic, 31 August 1966, 3; “Palace History Theme of 1967 CP Panels,” The Daily Republic, 15 August 1967, 7; “Role of Art in Education is Seen as Tape for Creativity: Speaker,” The Daily Republic, 29 April 1968, 3; “Oscar Howe Depicts Appolo 11,” The Daily Republic, 29 July 1969, 1; “Mitchell Library Dome,” The Daily Republic, 13 April 1970, 3; “Palace Theme: Environment,” The Daily Republic, 21 July 1970, 1; “New Booklet Released on Corn Palace,” The Daily Republic, 24 July 1971, 3; “Art Teachers to Decorate Corn Palace,” The Daily Republic, 24 May 1972, 3. Calvin Schultz designed the murals from 1977 to 2002. From 2003 to 2017, the murals have been designed by Cherie Ramsdell.{{cite web |last1=Spangler |first1=Jessie |title=And the Next Corn Palace Mural is.... |url=https://www.midwestliving.com/travel/south-dakota/mitchell/and-the-next-corn-palace-mural-is/ |website=Midwest Living |date=2018-10-26 |access-date=2020-07-19}} No new mural was created in 2006 due to an extreme drought.{{cite news |last =Davey |first =Monica |title=Blistering Drought Ravages Farmland on Plains |newspaper=The New York Times |date=2006-08-29 |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2006/08/29/us/29drought.html?hp&ex=1156910400&en=a4f95604e6dbe65a&ei=5094&partner=homepage |access-date=2007-10-15}} Beginning in 2018, designs have been created by Dakota Wesleyan University students.{{cite news |last1=Burrall |first1=David |title=Salute to Military murals up on Corn Palace |url=https://drgnews.com/2018/12/21/salute-to-military-murals-up-on-corn-palace/ |access-date=19 July 2020 |work=DRGNews |date=21 December 2018}}{{cite web |title=Corn Palace History |url=https://cornpalace.com/149/Corn-Palace-History |website=The World's Only Corn Palace |access-date=19 July 2020}} As of 2018, it costs an estimated $175,000 each time the Palace is redecorated.

Twelve naturally occurring shades of corn are grown by local farmers to create the artwork.{{cite news |last1=Lammers |first1=Dirk |title=World's Only Corn Palace gets an extreme makeover |url=https://www.metrowestdailynews.com/article/20070930/NEWS/309309903 |access-date=2020-07-19 |work=Metro West Daily News |date=2007-09-30}} Artists' drawings are transferred to black tar paper labeled with codes corresponding to colors, providing a "corn-by-numbers" pattern showing where each colored cob should be nailed. Corn cobs are split in two lengthwise and nailed to the exterior of the building, using approximately 1.5 million nails and 325,000 ears of corn.

File:Corn Palace mural creation display.jpg

==Designs==

Image:Mitchell Corn Palace Front 1964.JPG|1964 - South Dakota Scenes

Image:Mitchell corn palace.jpg|2000 - Millennium Corn

Image:2003-08-15 Mitchell Corn Palace.jpg|2003 - Scenic South Dakota

File:Corn Palace 2004.jpg|2004 - Lewis & Clark

File:Mitchell Corn Palace 2005.jpg|2005 - Life on the Farm

File:CornPalace2008.jpg|2008 - Everyday Heroes

File:Corn Palace 2011.jpg|2011 - American Pride

File:Corn Palace 2016.jpg|2016 - Rock of Ages

File:Corn Palace 2020.jpg|2020 - South Dakota Home Grown

Bibliography

{{cite journal| last=Briggs| first=John Ely| title=The Sioux City Corn Palaces| journal=The Palimpsest| url=https://pubs.lib.uiowa.edu/palimpsest/article/id/24995/| volume=3| issue=10| year=1922| pages=313–326| issn=0031-0360}}
{{cite book| title=A Chronological History of the World's Only Corn Palace — Mitchell, SD| publisher=Corn Palace Committee| year=1992}}
"The World's Corniest Building." LIFE 38:1 (3 Jan 1955), 77.
{{cite book| last=Guhin| first=Paula| title=The King of Corn, Cal Schultz: Having the Times of His Life| location=Aberdeen, SD| publisher=Prairie Home Press| year=2002| isbn=978-0971965805}}
Mitchell Chamber of Commerce. A Year by Year History Of ... The World's Only Corn Palace. 5th ed. Mitchell, SD: Educator Supply Company, 1957.
{{cite book| last=Pennington| first=Robert| title=Oscar Howe: Artist of the Sioux| location=Sioux Falls, SD| publisher=Dakota Territory Centennial Commission| year=1961| url=https://books.google.com/books?id=dMBRAQAAMAAJ&q=Oscar+Howe:+Artist+of+the+Sioux}}
{{cite journal| last=Rubin| first=Cynthia Elyce| title=The Midwestern Corn Palaces: A 'Maize' of Detail and Wonder| journal=The Clarion| date=Fall 1983| pages=24–31| url=https://issuu.com/american_folk_art_museum/docs/clarion_fall1983/37}}
{{cite journal| last1=Schwieder| first1=Dorothy| first2=Patricia| last2=Swanson| title=The Sioux City Corn Palaces| journal=Annals of Iowa| volume=41| number=8| date=Spring 1973| pages=1209–1227| issn=0003-4827| doi=10.17077/0003-4827.11148| doi-access=free}}
{{cite journal| last=Simpson| first=Pamela H.| title=Cereal Architecture: Late-Nineteenth-Century Grain Palaces and Crop Art| journal=Building Environments: Perspectives in Vernacular Architecture| volume=X| editor1-first=Kenneth A.| editor1-last=Breisch| editor2-first=Alison K.| editor2-last=Hoagland| pages=269–82| location=Knoxville| publisher=University of Tennessee Press| year=2005| url=https://books.google.com/books?id=cgYMSRWnagAC&q=Cereal+Architecture:+Late-Nineteenth-Century+Grain+Palaces+and+Crop+Art&pg=PA269| isbn=978-1572334403}}
{{cite journal| last=Simpson| first=Pamela H.| title=Turn-of-the-Century Midwestern Corn Festivals: Kiosks and Crop Art as American Icons| journal=Arris| volume=14| year=2003| pages=1–15| doi=10.1353/arr.2003.0000| s2cid=244121220| url=https://books.google.com/books?id=9odMAAAAYAAJ&q=Turn-of-the-Century+Midwestern+Corn+Festivals:+Kiosks+and+Crop+Art+as+American+Icons| url-access=subscription}}