South Dakota’s Casey Tibbs Rodeo Center and Historical Museum
Located near the Verendrye Monument in Fort Pierre, South Dakota, the Casey Tibbs South Dakota Rodeo Center is a historical museum literally devoted to the legendary sport, its history, and stars of the South Dakota rodeo world.
This is something that one-and-all should visit, simply because of the numerous memorabilia, sculptures, data and information housed inside this elegant, two-level museum. Not only can you set eyes upon the extensive collection that belonged to NINE-time World Champion, Casey Tibbs, but you can also take in the life of the spectacular trick rider of the 1920’s, Mattie Goff Newcombe, and many other world champs who hailed from the state of South Dakota. Add to this, displays of past and present rodeo artifacts and rodeo for kids that encompasses everything from the Little Britches to 4-H to High School Rodeo, and you have something for all members of the family to enjoy.
Casey Tibbs, Who Was He?
For those who may not be aware, Casey Tibbs was born in 1929, just 50 miles northwest of Fort Pierre. Being raised in a log cabin on the family homestead sitting on the banks of the Cheyenne River, he started riding in rodeos in South Dakota at the age of 14. Just five years later, Casey became the youngest man to win the national saddle bronc-riding crown, and went on to win a total of six PRCA saddle bronc-riding championships (a record still unchallenged), two all-around cowboy championships and one bareback-riding championship. Described as being to rodeo what Babe Ruth was to baseball and Ali was to boxing, Casey was awarded the ‘golden boot’ from the Motion Picture and Television Relief Fund for his contribution to the industry; and, in 1989, a larger than life bronze statue of Casey riding the famous bucking horse, Necktie, was dedicated at the Pro-rodeo Cowboy Hall of Fame.
The Johnny Smith Memorial Sculpture Garden, overlooking the mighty Missouri River, is an unforgettable area filled with bronze statues that memorialize rodeo greats, and was completed in 2019. Here, you can even add your own engraved brick to the hundreds of other personalized bricks placed in the garden! The bronze works of art include five-time World Champion Bronc Rider Billy Etbauer and a statue of six-time World Champion bronc rider Casey, riding The Old Gray Mare. In 2019, a bronze of four-time World Champion bronc rider Clint Johnson was also placed within the garden.
South Dakota’s Casey Tibbs Center Offers Events
The Casey Tibbs South Dakota Rodeo Center. This multi-purpose hall hosts a wide variety of events for up to 300 guests. And, if you have a ‘hankering’ to attain incredible treasures from the rodeo world, the gift shop within the museum has a slew of original South Dakota and Midwestern made products, books by local authors, dreamcatcher necklaces, unique stone jewelry of the area, and so much more. For the adults, if you wish to have a ‘fun’ reminder of your visit, Casey Cabernet and Mattie’s Classic Chardonnay wines, vinted locally, are available,
South Dakota Experiences
If you are pass through South Dakota, it’s worth the stop. Learn more about Rodeo’s and the Cowboy way of Life. While in South Dakota go to a rodeo, Mount Rushmore and Custer State Park are a great combination. A night in the Badlands could leave you speechless.
In South Dakota? Visit Montana
Come stop at Pompey’s pillar, visit Billings, Livingston, with a Yellowstone National Park adventure. Take a guided fly fishing trip on a spring creek, float the Yellowstone River or an awesome walk and wade guided trip in Yellowstone National Park. Let us help you with a Yellowstone Cabin Rental or a Cabin on the Madison River. South Dakota and Montana offer great hiking and camping opportunities through their vast National Forest Systems. The Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem alone, you could spend a lifetime there.
Outdoor Apparel for A South Dakota – Montana Expedition
Heading north of the forty fifth parallel, you need the right gear. We offer the best performance outdoor apparel in graphic hoodies, graphic patterned leggings and the best performance graphic glove that offers a UPF-50 sun protection. Graphic gloves are great for driving, hiking, backpacking, photography, and the list goes on. For those Yellowstone National Park evenings the hydrophobic quarter zip graphic hoodie is the perfect outer layer around the campfire.
