Although South Dakota attained statehood on November 2nd, 1889 as our 40th state, its national day is observed April 26th. Rich in Native American history, South Dakota takes its name from both Lakota and Dakota tribes. The Verendrye brothers were the first Europeans to journey to the region in 1742 claiming it for France which later became part of Spanish Louisiana from 1762 to 1801. What is now South Dakota was part of the 1803 Louisiana Purchase from Napoleon.
Today, South Dakota ranks as the fifth least populated state so in Mr. Sousa’s day, it is perhaps the reason his famous band only performed 49 concerts there from 1904 to 1928. Thanks to Mitchell’s architectural gem, The Corn Palace, Sousa’s Band performed more than half their concerts [28] at this famous venue in 1904, 1907, 1921 and again in 1925-26 with the remainder taking place in Aberdeen, Brookings, Huron, Miller, Redfield, Sioux Falls, Vermillion, Watertown, and Yankton.
Their six-day engagement at the Corn Palace in 1907 afforded a couple different photo opportunities of Sousa’s Band that were eventually turned into commercially available post cards. I hope you will enjoy these and other Sousa-related artifacts from the Mount Rushmore State on this, National South Dakota Day!
1904 Sousa Band route sheet listing their initial appearance in South Dakota at Mitchell’s famous Corn Palace
The 1904 Corn Palace engagement was six days in length playing two concerts each day. This is the matinee performance from Tuesday, September 27th
A rare 1904 image of Sousa’s Band just outside the main entrance of The Corn Palace
Sousa’s Band posed for at least two takes at this photo session in 1907 when compared to the next image, some of the musician’s positioning has changed slightly
This second 1907 image seems to have more detail than the previous
Longtime Sousa Band trombonist and baggage manager, Marc Lyon, frequently kept in touch with family via the penny postcard. This shows the massive Corn Palace and is postmarked during the band’s 1907 engagement
South Dakota concerts in 1925 included both Aberdeen and Sioux Falls. Here is the cover for the Aberdeen concerts as well as the matinee program rendered in Sioux Falls
This 1926 matinee in Miller, SD afforded Mr. Sousa to poke fun at prohibition with his “The Wets and The Drys” while Tchaikovsky’s seldom heard symphonic poem “Le Voyvode” was on the bill
A band member’s annotated 1928 route sheet listing the final South Dakota appearances
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