Discover iconic, inspiring experiences with new S.D. Stars & Stripes Passport

This piece is sponsored by Travel South Dakota.

It’s not too soon to start celebrating America’s 250th birthday — especially as you travel across South Dakota.

The latest digital passport from Travel South Dakota is designed to help you do just that. The newly released Stripes & Stripes Passport is designed to connect both locals and tourists with patriotic experiences and destinations statewide. The mobile-exclusive passport allows travelers to discover patriotic places as they earn rewards along the way.

“South Dakota has long been known for providing world-class opportunities to showcase American heritage, national monuments and memorials, and iconic locations in United States history,” said Katlyn Svendsen, global public relations and content services senior director for Travel South Dakota. “Now, even more people can discover and celebrate these amazing sites in South Dakota.”

Passport locations reflect the spirit of the U.S. in South Dakota. All stops were intentionally selected to showcase a mix of meaningful memorials, small-town charm, patriotic festivals, natural beauty and history-rich attractions.

“They’re not just a list of landmarks,” Svendsen said. “This is a collection of places that help visitors connect with our state’s values and vibrant communities.”

Immersive history

History comes to life as soon as you walk inside The National Presidential Wax Museum in Keystone, for example.

“It’s a really unique way to learn about history,” general manager Clay King said.

“We’re unique as a wax museum in that we have a self-guided audio tour with more than 100 wax figures, and almost all are portrayed in a tableau, or a set, that’s a re-creation of an iconic moment in U.S. presidential history.”

Take a tour at your own pace after viewing a short video showing a history of the museum, which has been around for more than a half-century, and detailing how the wax figures are made.

And don’t miss one of the newest additions: a replica of the presidential briefing room where you can play press secretary.

“It’s spot-on,” King said. “You can get up and give a speech at the lectern, and it’s a great photo opportunity. It kicks it out on a closed-circuit TV, so it looks like you’re on the news giving a press conference.”

Watch for more interactive experiences like that to come, he said.

The museum is a hit with all ages, from seniors reflecting on presidential history to young people just discovering it.

“It’s always amazing when you see a 10-year-old easily spend an hour and a half here,” King said.

Plus, the attraction is designed for extended visits, including an adjacent miniature golf course and Grapes & Grinds, an on-site coffee shop and wine bar.

“We do free wine tasting all day, every day with local wines, and then it’s a really busy coffee shop in the morning,” King said.

The menu includes everything from breakfast sandwiches to paninis to homemade gelato.

“We also have a huge patio we just built that’s among the only outdoor dining spaces in Keystone, with firepits and live music.”

Seasonal hours for the museum are 8:30 a.m. to 8 p.m. daily through Labor Day weekend and then 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. through Oct. 31. Plus, checking in with your Stars & Stripes Passport means each member of your group will save 10 percent on admission.

Inside a battleship

The Battleship South Dakota Memorial in Sioux Falls sits on an unassuming corner of the city. Surrounded by retail sites and softball fields, it’s surprisingly easy to miss something as big as a battleship.

But a stop at the memorial is well worth it to learn the rich history of the USS South Dakota and those who served in World War II.

Kal Kemp, a veteran who volunteers at the museum, said he always points out one of the displays.

“The youngest combat veteran in World War II served on the USS South Dakota,” Kemp said. “That boy was 12 years old, and there’s a whole display about him here at the museum.”

Kemp said the museum attracts everyone from military history buffs to passersby who want to know more about the battleship. Visitors can watch a documentary in the museum to learn more about the ship.

“There’s quite a lot to see outside too,” Kemp said. “The whole perimeter of the battleship is laid out with a cement wall, and the inside is packed full of artifacts and things to see.”

The USS South Dakota, or BB-57, was commissioned into active service in the Navy in March 1942. The ceremony was at the Philadelphia Navy Yard in Pennsylvania, and the Washington High School band from Sioux Falls played “Anchors Aweigh” and “The Star-Spangled Banner” as the ship slid into the Delaware River.

Kemp said he continues to be moved by the stories the ship has to tell.

“It always touches me to look around and see how scared those men must have been, and they still did it,” he said. “Because they did it, we have the things we have in America. They always say ‘Freedom isn’t free,’ and this makes a poignant show of that.”

The Battleship South Dakota Memorial Foundation was established in 1963 as a nonprofit organization to commemorate USS South Dakota.

The museum is open from 9:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. seven days a week through Sept. 30.

Art meets Americana

Visitors to the Terry Redlin Art Center in Watertown can see the best of Americana on canvas — including three paintings that recently were acquired from private collectors.

The paintings now are part of the permanent collection and are on display in the gallery.

“When Terry started his career, he sold his paintings to earn a living,” said Julie Ranum, executive director of the center. “So there are other originals out there in the hands of private collectors.”

The newest ones acquired are “The Master’s Domain,” “On the Alert” and “Old Logger’s Trail.”

“They are in absolutely beautiful condition,” Ranum said. “You can tell they were loved and cared for for many years. They were a wonderful addition to our collection.”

Two were owned by a family in Arizona, and the third was from a man in Minnesota who had owned it since 1978. His family reached out to the art center after he died.

“His family knew they wanted to do something special, and they felt this was the best way to honor their father,” Ranum said. “Now, their family and generations to come will be able to come and see his painting at the art center.”

Ranum said people love to hear when paintings come back to the gallery from private collections.

“For Terry, selling the paintings was just part of his profession, but for us, it’s really special to have them come back home,” she said.

Admission to the museum is free, and it is open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. weekdays, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday and noon to 5 p.m. Sunday.

Free and easy

“The idea of the passport is to help generate discovery, reflection and celebration,” Svendsen said.  “We hope people find joy in tracing the steps of U.S. history, pause to admire memorials and murals, and enjoy the sense of pride that comes from standing in the presence of something bigger.”

Many of the destinations in this passport are public, easily accessible and require no tickets or reservations.

“They’re designed for reflection and exploration on your own terms,” Svendsen said.

You can explore the Black Hills National Forest, Badlands National Park or Crazy Horse Memorial as passport stops.

Stroll through the South Dakota State Capitol and Memorial Grounds or wind your way through the Black Hills on the Peter Norbeck Scenic Byway.

“These stops offer the freedom to visit early in the morning or during a scenic detour,” Svendsen said. “They’re ideal for spontaneous travelers, families with flexible itineraries or anyone looking to explore beyond the beaten path without needing to coordinate or plan ahead.”

Check in and win

Each stop on the Stars & Stripes Passport is worth 10 points when you check in digitally — so the more you explore, the better the rewards!

Prizes start at just three check-ins, or 30 points, for stickers and small souvenirs. Top rewards are a NorthFace South Dakota backpack or an ENO hammock. Plus, your points never expire from year to year, so you can keep building toward bigger rewards.

The Stars & Stripes Passport is the ninth mobile-exclusive passport to be created by Travel South Dakota. Check out all of the passports at TravelSouthDakota.com/Passports.