South Dakota travel bucket list stop: South Dakota Air and Space Museum
Found less than 12 miles beyond Rapid City, the South Dakota Air and Space Museum is home to a comprehensive collection of documents, aircraft, and artifacts that provide a complete history of Ellsworth Air Force Base, which played a crucial role in the Cold War.
Visitors can see B-29, B-52, and B-1 bombers; an intact missile silo; Titan I and Minuteman intercontinental ballistic missiles; and many other interesting artifacts.
Entrance to the museum is free of charge, but there’s a small fee for the bus tour if you wish to see the missile silo.
As you plan your trip, make a note that the indoor galleries are closed in January and February, and tours of the missile silo and the base are only offered from the middle of May to the middle of September.
Travelers have called the South Dakota Air and Space Museum an outstanding educational experience, particularly if you’re a history or aviation buff.