What Is the World's Only Corn Palace? History & Visiting Guide

Rising over Main Street in Mitchell, South Dakota, sits a building unlike any other on earth: a working arena clad in murals made entirely from corn and other grains, topped with onion-shaped domes and minarets. Locals simply call it the Corn Palace, and the slogan painted proudly across town — “The World’s Only Corn Palace” — is no exaggeration.

This guide explains what the Corn Palace is, how it came to be, why its exterior changes every year, and how to plan a visit.

A Brief History

The Corn Palace traces its origins to the late 19th century, when Mitchell’s founders wanted to showcase the fertility of South Dakota’s soil and the promise of the region’s agriculture. The idea was simple and bold: decorate a building with the very crops the area grew, proving to settlers and visitors alike that this was prime farming country.

The current Corn Palace building dates to the early 20th century, with additions and renovations over the decades. What has endured throughout is the tradition that gives the building its name and fame — the grain murals.

Why “the world’s only”?

Other towns have experimented with crop-decorated buildings over the years, but Mitchell’s Corn Palace is the one that endured, evolved, and became a permanent civic institution. It remains a functioning public venue rather than a one-off attraction, which is a big part of why the “world’s only” claim has stuck.

The Corn Murals

The Corn Palace’s signature feature is its ever-changing exterior. Each year, large murals on the building are torn down and recreated using thousands of bushels of corn, along with grasses and grains, arranged to form intricate images.

Here’s what makes the murals special:

• A new theme every year. Designers choose a fresh theme annually, so the building’s appearance is never the same two years running.
• Real, regionally grown corn. The murals use naturally colored corn varieties to create their palette of shades, cut and nailed into place by hand.
• A genuine art form. The redesign is a major undertaking carried out by local crews and artists, blending agriculture, craftsmanship, and public art.

Tip: Because the murals are redesigned on a yearly cycle, the building can look its most polished after the new murals are completed. If pristine corn art is your goal, check the Corn Palace’s official updates on the current year’s mural status before timing your visit.

Moorish-Revival Architecture

Beyond the corn, the building’s silhouette is unmistakable. The Corn Palace is crowned with onion domes, minarets, and turrets in a Moorish-revival style that gives it an almost fairytale appearance against the flat prairie horizon. The whimsical architecture, combined with the grain murals, is exactly why so many travelers pull off Interstate 90 just to see it in person.

More Than a Landmark: A Working Arena

It’s easy to think of the Corn Palace purely as a roadside curiosity, but it is very much a living, working venue. Inside, the Corn Palace functions as a multi-purpose arena and event center that hosts:

• High school and college basketball games
• Concerts and touring entertainment
• Community events, trade shows, and graduations
• The annual Corn Palace Festival each late summer

That dual identity — beloved landmark on the outside, busy civic arena on the inside — is central to its character. The building isn’t frozen in time; it’s part of daily life in Mitchell.

Visiting the Corn Palace

The Corn Palace is one of the most accessible attractions in the region, sitting right in downtown Mitchell just off I-90.

Visiting detail	What to know
Location	Downtown Mitchell, South Dakota
Admission	Typically free to view and enter
Best photo angle	Exterior murals from the street
Inside	Arena floor, displays, and gift shop
When to go	Year-round; murals freshest after annual redesign

A few practical notes for planning:

• Hours vary by season and events. Because the arena hosts games and shows, public viewing hours can shift. Confirm current hours with the official Corn Palace before you arrive.
• It’s a quick stop or a longer one. Many travelers spend 30 to 60 minutes admiring the murals and browsing inside, while others time their trip around an event.
• Parking is downtown. Street and lot parking are available nearby, though it fills up during festivals and big events.

Tie It to the Festival

The Corn Palace truly comes alive during the Corn Palace Festival, the late-summer celebration built around the building, with a carnival midway, food vendors, and grandstand concerts. If you can align your visit with the festival, you’ll see the landmark at its liveliest.

Want to make a road trip of it? The Corn Palace is a natural stop on a wider Great Plains route. Browse more of our travel features and destination stories in the magazine, where we cover landmarks, fairs, and festivals across the country.

Final Thoughts

The World’s Only Corn Palace is that rare attraction that lives up to its billing. Part agricultural showpiece, part folk-art masterpiece, and part hardworking community arena, it captures the spirit of South Dakota’s farming heritage in a way no other building does. Whether you stop for a quick photo of the corn murals or plan your trip around an event inside, the Corn Palace rewards the visit — just confirm current hours and the year’s mural schedule with official sources before you go.