Interior in Jackson County, South Dakota — The American Midwest (Upper Plains)
The Badlands Wall
Photographed By Beverly Pfingsten, June 6, 2011
1. The Badlands Wall Marker
Inscription.
The Badlands Wall constantly retreats north as it erodes and washes into the White River Valley below. The Wall, an intricately carved cliff, divides the upper from the lower prairie.
The wall is more than sixty miles long. It is the geologic feature around which park boundaries were drawn. The Loop Road follows the Wall, sometimes dipping to the lower prairie, then climbing back to the rim.
Anywhere a wagon could be worked up and down the Wall was called a pass by homesteaders. Getting a team and wagon through one of the steep, uneven passes was not to be undertaken lightly.
Today, daily, thousands of people easily negotiate the passes in pickups and automobiles.
Lower Photo , In the 1920s when some of the more successful homesteaders had cars, even they had problems with the passes. No one dared tackle Badlands roads in wet weather without a shovel at hand to dig Model-T's out of ruts and mudholes.
The Badlands Wall constantly retreats north as it erodes and washes into the White River Valley below. The Wall, an intricately carved cliff, divides the upper from the lower prairie.
The wall is more than sixty miles long. It is the geologic feature around which park boundaries were drawn. The Loop Road follows the Wall, sometimes dipping to the lower prairie, then climbing back to the rim.
Anywhere a wagon could be worked up and down the Wall was called a pass by homesteaders. Getting a team and wagon through one of the steep, uneven passes was not to be undertaken lightly.
Today, daily, thousands of people easily negotiate the passes in pickups and automobiles.
Lower Photo In the 1920s when some of the more successful homesteaders had cars, even they had problems with the passes. No one dared tackle Badlands roads in wet weather without a shovel at hand to dig Model-T's out of ruts and mudholes.
Topics. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Natural Features.
Location. 43° 47.15′ N, 101° 54.11′ W. Marker is in Interior, South Dakota, in Jackson County. Marker can be reached from State Highway 240, on the left when traveling south. Marker is on the left past the entrance to Badlands National Park. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Interior SD 57750, United States of America. Touch for directions.
More about this marker. Marker is in Badlands National Park and requires an entrance fee or annual pass.
Photographed By Beverly Pfingsten, June 6, 2011
2. The Badlands
Photographed By Beverly Pfingsten, June 6, 2011
3. The Badlands
Photographed By Beverly Pfingsten, June 6, 2011
4. The Badlands
Photographed By Beverly Pfingsten, June 6, 2011
5. The Badlands
Photographed By Beverly Pfingsten, June 6, 2011
6. The Badlands
Credits. This page was last revised on June 16, 2016. It was originally submitted on July 30, 2011, by Bill Pfingsten of Bel Air, Maryland. This page has been viewed 1,052 times since then and 39 times this year. Photos:1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6. submitted on July 30, 2011, by Bill Pfingsten of Bel Air, Maryland.
