South Dakota
Mount Rushmore state
South Dakota
South Dakota's nickname is "Mount Rushmore State" another nickname for it is "The Coyote State". It was the 40th state and South Dakota became a state on November 2, 1889. The governor is Dennis Daugaard and the lieutenant governor is Matt Michels. The abbreviation is SD.
Capital
The capital is in Pierre, South Dakota. Pierre is one of the biggest cites in South Dakota along with Rapid City and water town.
Symbols
state jewelry
Black hills gold was designated as the state jewelry in 1988
State Flower
The state flower is the Pasque flower it was designated as the state flower in 1903. It's pedals are purple with yellow on the inside and a white bulb inside the yellow.
State Animal
The state animal is the Coyote it ws designated as the state animal in 1949. It's fur is gray on top and as it goes down it changes to white then a more tan color. it has a long mouth.
State Bird
the Ring Necked Pheasant is the state bird. They eat seeds and grains from farm fields, they also eat grasses and a bunch more!
State Tree
South Dakota designated the Black Hills White Spruce as the official state tree in 1947.
State Mineral
Rose Quartz was designated as the state mineral of South Dakota in 1966.
State Gemstone
This is Fairburn Agate the Gemstone of the state it can be many colors there are blue ones, red ones, gray ones, and yellow ones.
State Insect
the honey bee is the state insect. the honey bee produces honey like in its name.
State Fossil
The triceratops is the fossil of South Dakota. It was a herbivore. It had tree horns that what the tri means in its name.
State flag
A blue background with the state seal in the middle of it. There are the words "South Dakota, The Mount Rushmore State".
State License Plates
On the Plates are Mount Rushmore with the words Great Faces Great Places. On top it says South Dakota.
State Seal
A farmland with a farmer at the bottom with two yellowish brown horses and a banner that says " Under god the people rule". On the outside it says "State Of South Dakota" and that is on top the top and bottom are separated by two stars. On the bottom it says "Great 1889 seal".
Quarter
The faces of Mount Rushmore are in the middle with the state bird flying over top with two pieces of wheat on the sides. On the top is the words "South Dakota" and 1889. on the bottom are the words "E PLURIBUS UNUM" which means "out of many, one" that is the US motto and on top of that the number 2006 is there two.
Soil
the soil is houdek and is only found in South Dakota! I the top layer is dark grayish brown.
Anthem of South Dakota USA
Words to the Song
Hail! South Dakota, A great state of the land, Health, wealth and beauty, That's what makes her grand; She has her Black Hills, And mines with gold so rare, And with her scenery, No other state can compare. Come where the sun shines, And where life's worth your while, You won't be here long, 'Till you'll wear a smile; No state's so healthy, And no folk quite so true, To South Dakota. We welcome you. Hail! South Dakota, The state we love the best, Land of our fathers, Builders of the west; Home of the Badlands, and Rushmore's ageless shrine, Black Hills and prairies, Farmland and Sunshine. Hills, farms and prairies, Blessed with bright Sunshine
State Grass
Western wheat grass is the state grass and was designated as the state grass in 1970. Its nickname is red-joint wheat grass.
State Bread
South Dakota designated Fry Bread as the official state bread in 2005. It is also known as "Squaw Bread" in some areas, Fry Bread is a native american food, a flat dough fried or deep fried in oil, shortening, or lard.
State Dessert
Kuchen was designated as the official state dessert of South Dakota in 2000. Kuchen is the German word for "cake" and is used to describe a variety of different desserts and pastries.
State drink
Milk was designated as the official state drink in South Dakota in 1986. Milk has been called a nearly perfect drink because it is a good source of protein, calcium and several other important nutrients.
State Instrument
South Dakota designated the Fiddle as the official state instrument in 1989. The Fiddle has four strings and is play with a bow. The bow is made of horse hair.
State Stamp
The South Dakota stamp was released on April 4, 2002. With a bull on the bottom and he is walking in wheat ad over in the right bottom corner it says USA 34 just above the bull is the words "Greetings from South Dakota" and Mount Rushmore as the background of this stamp.
Historical Events
In 1804 the Lewis and Clark expedition arrived in South Dakota.
Gutzon Borglum started to work on Mount Rushmore in 1927. Gutzon wanted to make the bodies of the presidents but he died before the crew go to it and the crew didn't know what to do so they called it finish but now it sits there still unfinished to Gutzon.
Name
South Dakota was named after the Lakota and Dakota Sioux native american tribes.
Attractions
Bear Butte
Bear Butte was established a state park in 1961. An important landmark and religious site for the Plains Indians tribes long before Europeans reached South Dakota, Bear Butte is called Matho paha or Bear Mountain, by the Lakota or Sioux tribes.
The Needles
The Needles of the Black Hills South Dakota are a region of eroded granite pillars, towers, or spires. Popular with rock climbers and tourists alike, The Needles accessed from the Needles highway with is part of Sylvan Lake Road. The Needles were the original site proposed for the Mount Rushmore carvings. The location was rejected by the sculptor Gutzon Borglum owing for the poor quality of the granite and the fact that they were to thin to support sculptures.
Mount Rushmore
Mount Rushmore has some of our presidents carved into it. The presidents on it are George Washington, Thomas Jeferson, Theodore Roosevelt, and Abraham Lincon.
Crazy Horse
An Oglala Lakota Warrior riding a horse pointing into the distance and this warrior is chief Henry. Unlike Mount Rushmore this monument is still being worked on and if it does get finished then it will be the biggest sculpture in the world.
Harney Peak
Harney Peak is the highest natural in South Dakota and the Black Hills. It lies in the Black Elk Wilderness area.
Badlands national park
Badlands national park is a national park in southwestern South Dakota. It became a national monument on March 4, 1929. Native Americans have used this are for hunting grounds. Long be fore the Oglala Lakota were the little-studied Paleo-indians, followed by the Arikara people.