Growing up, I remember being perplexed by bumperstickers that proclaimed that the people in the car – or the car, at least – had visited Wall Drug. I just remember being so confused about why anyone would take pride in having visited a drug store.
And why was it named Wall Drug? Why not Floor Drug or Window Drug or Door Drug?
You have to remember that I was a very literal child.
After Rapid City, it was my turn to visit Wall Drug.
They build excitement with tempting signs.
Ooh! Shopping! (And they aren’t kidding about the “…and a whole lot more!”
Coffee?! I can’t wait!
If you’re going to have coffee, you might as well have…
Donuts!
And maybe a little protein with that snack.
Don’t forget your free ice water!
Actually, the free ice water is probably what saved Wall Drug, which opened up in 1931. If you are interested in the story, they do a nice job of telling it on their website. Actually, I got some of these photos from their website, because mine didn’t do them justice.
It’s kind of hard to snap photos of them while you are driving.
The signs really are works of folk art. They were all hand painted and remain hand painted to this day.
I got off I-90 and saw the sign telling me where to find Wall Drug. But there was another sign I was more eager to see.
I was happy to see this one with an arrow indicating the way to my campground. I got in and got settled. It’s kind of hard to sight see when you are towing a trailer.
After I had the Flo all set up and Bart unhitched, I strolled over to see the world-famous Wall Drug.
I liked how they used these twisted trunks as part of the architecture.
There were all sorts of storefronts and restaurants. I don’t know if they were all part of the original Wall Drug or other businesses that jumped on the bandwagon. I was a little curious about this sign. Seafood and fish…Seafood and fish? Isn’t fish seafood? I wasn’t in the market for either of those items. One thing I have learned in my travels is that you probably won’t get the best quality seafood (or fish) in the middle of a prairie.
Another set/subset problem. The Black Hill is in America. Anything made there would necessarily be made in America.
As I said, I tend to be rather literal. I guess I haven’t exactly given up my childhood ways.
I strolled around and looked at the merchandise they had for sale. Really, there was nothing that I couldn’t live without. It seemed like the different areas of the store were run by different people with their own rules. Some places had signs prohibiting photographs, so I just didn’t bother. But, if you are sorry that this is missing from my report, click here. You can even buy your souvenirs from the comfort of your own home.
The one thing I was looking for was dinner.
I had a buffalo burger, the 5¢ cup of coffee and the FREE ICE WATER!
For the kids, there is a photo-op jackalope. (I would have had my picture taken, but no one else was around.)
There was also a large post card/small bill board in the courtyard.
Before I headed out, I used the restroom.
I was pleased to see that they were committed to my total experience and included an illustration to show me how to use the SanitGrasp.
It kind of reminded me of the Opti-grab from “The Jerk”.
I’m not sure if I was overwhelmed or underwhelmed by the Wall Drug experience. One thing is for sure: I have now been to Wall Drug.
There were some other things I found interesting in Wall. One was the library.
I was on foot, so it was easy to go over and investigate.
I like to check out what is being honored and when they decided to dedicate monument.
The plaque makes it quite clear.
They also have a time capsule. I presume they have already opened the one commemorating South Dakota’s centennial. It was dedicated July 9, 1989, and was due to be opened on Wall’s centennial in 2007. It will be interesting to see what they chose to include in the more recent time capsule. Only 24 more years to go until that one is opened.
This is obviously a community that values literacy. They have a LittleFreeLibrary outside the town library.
The library was constructed in 1936 with funds from the WPA. Again, I am in awe of the lifeline our government extended to people in the Great Depression.
The structure was originally built as a community center, if I remember correctly.
I ran into the librarian as she was wrapping up her day. She told me that the people who worked on the project pecked their names into the rocks they used to build it.
At least that is what I think she told me. I figured I could find some information on line about it. Isn’t everything on line these days? But, with a population of fewer than 800, I guess they don’t feel the need to document everything for the curious public.
Quite frankly, I thought this was the most interesting part of Wall, SD. But that’s just me.
WPA projects and grain elevators – more my speed than jackalopes and souvenirs.
Tomorrow: The Badlands!