November 27, 2000

9:22 AM

I wonder how many people went hungry so this monstrosity could be built? And mom always said to not play with your food....
posted by Arvid (11 comments total)

why visit the tribune's rehashed travel "news" ...just go to the source:www.cornpalace.com.
posted by jamescblack at 9:43 AM on November 27, 2000

"That's the 'corn-cept' behind the 'ear-chitecture' . . . "

Haw! What a loony! Didja see that crazy spelling? Now that's goddamn funny! I think I'm going to go "corn-mit" suicide by "shooting myself" in the "brain"!

posted by Skot at 9:49 AM on November 27, 2000

Whether you think it a monstrosity or not, the Corn Palace is a tourist draw, and brings money into the local economy. Not a bad trick a small town in South Dakota. And besides, it gives them something to do.

posted by dws at 9:55 AM on November 27, 2000

The Indians called it Maize.
posted by schlomo at 10:07 AM on November 27, 2000

I wonder how many people went hungry...

Probably no one. Famine relief is more of an issue of economic distribution than food production.
posted by harmful at 10:22 AM on November 27, 2000

"Thousands of bushels" of, probably, mainly low-quality feed grains were used. It may sound, and look, like a lot ... but trust me. It's a drop in the silo.
posted by dhartung at 10:23 AM on November 27, 2000

Considering the other tourist trap is WallDrug that isn't saying much. Though they do have the badlands, which arn't much different from the populated sections.
posted by john at 10:26 AM on November 27, 2000

I grew up in South Dakota, there are some interesting things, like the badlands and the black hills are alright. But the depressing nature of the desperation to get money from tourists by any means necessary is only slightly outweighed by the kitchy fun...when the weather is nice.
posted by chrismc at 10:45 AM on November 27, 2000

Chris, you obviously haven't been anywhere near Chattanooga ...
posted by dhartung at 10:57 AM on November 27, 2000

NObody went hungry. The Corn Palace is built of seed corn, and acts as the world's biggest bird feeder on the outside, and inside has a gym, for public events, proms, etc.

My husband and I went there 2 summers ago, on a "See the weird in America" Driving tour, and it is gorgeous in person.
posted by kristin at 1:17 PM on November 27, 2000

Gorgeous, yes, but was it polite?
posted by dhartung at 6:02 PM on November 27, 2000