The Rest Area Tipis of South Dakota

Pull into a rest area off Interstate 90 in South Dakota and you just might be greeted by a giant concrete tipi known as “Whitwam’s wigwams”.

Nine of these massive structures were erected during the 1960’s and 1970’s and were designed by Ward Whitwam. They were designed as a nod to the Native American history and culture in South Dakota.

Eight 12″x18″ concrete lodge poles standing 56 feet high and weighing 6.5 tons were used to construct each tipi. The base of the tipi is 35 feet in diameter with a 3-foot opening at the top.

While driving down the road it’s really hard to miss these behemoths, because they tower so high in the sky.

If you see one off in the distance I suggest you take a minute to pull over and check it out. Their sheer size can’t really be understood until you stand beneath one.

In 2015 the tipis were listed on the National Register of Historic Places as the “Ward Whitwam’s concrete instate tipis.”

You can find them at the following rest areas:
Chamberlain, New Effington, Salem, Spearfish, Valley Springs, Vermillon, Wasta