From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia:
Badlands National Park is a national park in southwestern South Dakota that protects 242,756 acres (379.306 sq. mi; 98,240 ha) of sharply eroded buttes, pinnacles, and spires blended with the largest undisturbed mixed grass prairie in the United States. The park is managed by the National Park Service.
The Badlands Wilderness protects 64,144 acres (100.225 sq. mi; 25,958 ha) of the park as a designated wilderness area and is the site of the reintroduction of the black-footed ferret, the most endangered land mammal in North America.
The South Unit, or Stronghold Unit, is co-managed with the Oglala Lakota tribe and includes sites of 1890s Ghost Dances, a former United States Air Force bomb and gunnery range, and Red Shirt Table, the park’s highest point at 3,340 feet (1,020 m).
Authorized as Badlands National Monument on March 4, 1929, it was not established until January 25, 1939. It was redesignated a national park on November 10, 1978.
Under the Mission 66 plan, the Ben Reifel Visitor Center was constructed for the monument in 1957–58. The park also administers the nearby Minuteman Missile National Historic Site.
Prior to entering the national park we visited the Minuteman Missile National Historic Site.
While many of the Minuteman II silos were destroyed 150 of them were converted to Minuteman III silos.
In these slide shows it is worthwhile to pay attention to the stratification layers and how the light affects the colors. The scenery is constantly changing as the clouds shift. There is also some wildlife to be seen.
It was an awesome place to visit. With our National Parks Pass the price was right – $0.00. We had a great day and capped it with a visit to Dairy Queen on the way back to our quarters. I had a banana split for dinner.
Jeanne & Walt's Adventures 