South Dakota holds a special place in my heart. My life began when I left the nest in 1993. We drove up around the bridge and down into Wisconsin, across the kneecaps of Minnesota and into South Dakota. It was August so things were hot and dusty. I remember that first visit to the Corn Palace. Majestic! And then whipping across the state the rest of the day, over to Wall Drug, so mystified. Bry and I had no idea what to expect? To have the mystery solved, created this sense of wonder for the American road trip. If Wall Drug was this great/dumb/unexpected, hell, what else was out there in the world?

That night, we pulled into a very dark Badlands, and pitched our tent on an outcrop overlooking…something, uh, geographically intriguing. That next morning we awoke to those Badlands. Miles and miles of ‘em. Blown away.

We drove up to Mt. Rushmore, to see the “Four Guys.” I remember digging through the lost and found and finding a big ol’ cowboy hat. I took a little liberty and took the thing. We left the visitor’s center, and as we’re walking back to the car, a Wilfred Brimley-looking cowboy came flying up on us, “Gimme back my hat, boy!” Almost kicked my ass on the spot. Told him I lost my hat the other day, and, oh, wait, “This might not be it…” Bry and I laughed all the way to Wyoming.

In the proceeding years, I’ve explored those Black Hills. Deadwood, Sturgis, Crazy Horse. Aside from the patriotism one feels looking up at Mt. Rushmore, I can’t help but always think: The land it sits on was stolen from someone. A great respect for the beauty of the Lakota, Nakota and Dakota indigenous peoples has always simmered in me. Bad deals, lies and atrocities were thrust upon them, and it’s a wonder their spirit still haunts like it does. There’s a big part of me that thinks we should simply give those Black Hills back to the Native Americans. And let them call the shots.

That said, South Dakota will always be a special place to me. One part patriotic and adventurous, and a bigger part, a stern lesson on where we went wrong, and the work we need to do to make things right with the people who it belongs to. Proceeds from this poster will go to American Indian Education Foundation and the Native American Heritage Foundation.

01. Printed on thick, uncoated white poster stock. Beefy goodness.
02. Five colors, inspired by old Black Hills tourist decals! Four fluorescent colors with a hit of black that “seals the deal” and completes the poster.
03. 24” x 18”! A good, honest size for framing up.
04. Proudly printed by the patriots of The Half and Half down in Columbia, SC.
05. Too small up above? Alright Tantanka breath, click this: Zoom in here to inspect all that Dakota action.
06. Good for that mountain lean-to, Rapid City flophouse, Murdo ranch, Mitchell Corn Palace administrative office wall, Hugh Weber man cave, Jason Alley cabin, spirit quest tee pee and other spirited applications. You need one of these, South Dakota!
08. Hand-numbered, using our patented freehand technique.
09. Insanely limited edition. Going fast, so act now!
10. Free 3” x 20” burly kraft poster tube with each order! Reusable.
11. Two free white plastic end puck thingies.
$30.00 - Shipping Included (U.S.A., CANADA)

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