I sat down a couple weeks ago for an interview with a local Upward Bound syndicate. The program’s theme for the summer was the “Black Hills,” and she wanted to know what I knew.
I took one hard glance at her itinerary full of the basics.
“What? No Potato Creek Johnny?” I asked.
It was a legitimate question. But she didn’t treat it that way.
“Well, you’ll at least want to hear about how the Black Hills almost became the UN Headquarters, no?” I pressed.
Again, just a polite smile.
It was quickly becoming apparent this gig was below me—or at least not up for the kind of serious, off-grid look at Black Hills history that I was prepared to give them. We parted amicably. I told her to call me if she ever needed a lecture on a revisionist history of Poker Alice.
And then a few days later, I ended up in the capitol in Pierre.
This sort of thing happens from time to time. One moment you’re eating a jalapeno-topped cheeseburger at a Worthington truck stop and the next you’re in the basement of the capitol checking out the miniaturized model dresses worn by South Dakota First Ladies to the inauguration prom.
Anyway, the intersection of these events left me pondering state history. As a South Dakota history buff, I believe everyone should know the basics. But, that’s sort of pie-in-the-sky hopes. Honestly, if you only have five minutes, it’s way more fun to know the really trivial and weird stuff.
So, here they are: three of the most fascinating things that most South Dakotans have never heard of…or three things that will come in handy when one encounters a boastful Nebraskan….
1) In 1947, when world leaders convened to pick the United Nations headquarters site, the Black Hills received serious consideration. In fact, a vote was even cast for the Hills by Greece, which, of course, at the present moment is not the sterling model of prudent decision-making….but stay with me here…
The only disparaging remarks were heard (duh!) from the French, who described the Hills as “little piles of dirt.” Of course, locals in Ft. Pierre know for a fact this is just jealousy speaking because France’s 18th Century claim of ownership over the vast Dakotas (via the Verendrye Runestone) got buried in a cow pasture.
2) The first photograph of a tornado ever taken was shot southwest of Howard, South Dakota in 1888. Of course, the unassuming homesteader probably didn’t foresee the massive adrenaline sport he would give birth to. But, he did ignite a tradition of great journalistic photographers in South Dakota. In fact, rumor has it this farmer actually taught Lloyd Cunningham everything he knows.
3) In our rush to remember the characters of the Wild West, we often forget about Potato Creek Johnny. Johnny stood barely over four feet tall in his prospector’s hat, but he made a larger-than-life find when he “allegedly” panned the world’s largest gold nugget (locals say he just glued smaller clumps together). Even if he was a downright falsifying scoundrel, he makes the Rock Garden Tour Hall of Fame if solely for his association with vegetables and guerilla advertising.
Plus the man grew a beard past his waist, a look soon after copped by American prospecting revivalist rock act, ZZ Top.
So, he’s like a triple-whammy for us.
The revolution will not be found scouring Dallas, Texas for some tush, instead we’ll be at home studying the Scot-Irish heritage of Scotty Philip.
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