Near Iroquois in Kingsbury County, South Dakota — The American Midwest (Upper Plains)
Manchester, South Dakota
Population 150,000
Photographed by Ruth VanSteenwyk, May 29, 2018
1. Manchester, South Dakota Marker
August 27, 1961. More than 150,000 people converged on a patch of land just south of Highway 14 for the Dakota Territory Centennial Goldrush. The event was reminiscent of a stampede caused by General George Custer when he announced that gold had been found in the Black Hills back in 1874. Hundreds of contestants, each armed with gold shovels, dug for prizes that went up in value to $10,000. Manchester welcomed and rubbed shoulders with people from all over the country. Of course, Bandleader Lawrence Welk, a Dakotan who had traveled our roads many times, was emcee. He was joined by a young television cowboy actor named Clint Eastwood. A carnival and fireworks display lit up the sky. Festivities included an Amateur Talent Show, a Square Dance Festival, and a Boy Scout Camporee. "The Manchester Goldrush," as many remember it, was a promotional event sponsored by KELOLand Television to commemorate the 100th anniversary of the establishment of the Dakota Territory. It ended up making history.
Erected 2007.
Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Arts, Letters, Music • Settlements & Settlers. A significant historical date for this entry is August 27, 1961.
Location. 44° 22.181′ N, 97° 43.226′ W. Marker is near Iroquois, South Dakota, in
this page online
Regionally, this marker is in East River. It is also in the American Midwest, in the Lewis & Clark Corridor, in the Corn Belt, on the prairies, and on the Northern Plains. Globally, it is in North America, the Western Hemisphere, the Western World, and the Anglosphere. Historically, it finds itself in what was once Ruperts Land and also the Louisiana Purchase.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 9 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies: Town Hall and Town Pump (here, next to this marker); The Manchester Tornado (here, next to this marker); Harvy Dunn and Grace Ingalls Dow (here, next to this marker); a different marker also named Manchester (here, next to this marker); KELO-LAND Centennial Gold Rush (approx. Ό mile away); Harvey Dunn, N.A. (approx. Ό mile away); Esmond United Methodist Church (approx. 7.8 miles away); Father Pierre Jean De Smet (approx. 8.1 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Iroquois.
Related markers. Click here for a list of markers that are related to this marker.
Photographed by Ruth VanSteenwyk, May 29, 2018
2. The Manchester Town Monument
Credits. This page was last revised on August 28, 2024. It was originally submitted on June 12, 2018, by Ruth VanSteenwyk of Aberdeen, South Dakota. This page has been viewed 3,912 times since then and 145 times this year. Last updated on August 27, 2024, by Carl Gordon Moore Jr. of North East, Maryland. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on June 12, 2018, by Ruth VanSteenwyk of Aberdeen, South Dakota. • Devry Becker Jones was the editor who published this page.
