Leaving Fargo, we traveled south on I-29 to just north of Sioux Falls where we went east, back into MN, to Pipestone NM. Stone pipes have been in use on the North American continent since around 1,500 B.C. and archaeological evidence suggests that the pipestone quarries of Pipestone National Monument have been in use for 3,000 years. Pipestone NM is the source of stone for making of the most sacred pipes of the Plains Indians. The grounds of Pipestone National Monument have been an important cultural and spiritual site for many American Indian cultures for a very long time. Each culture has its own traditions, protocols, and stories that relate to the pipe, the quarrying grounds, and the pipestone itself. A Sioux story reflects the importance of the pipestone quarry, “"At an ancient time the Great Spirit, in the form of a large bird, stood upon the wall of rock and called all the tribes around him, and breaking out a piece of the red stone formed it into a pipe and smoked it, the smoke rolling over the whole multitude. He then told his red children that this red stone was their flesh, that they were made from it that they must all smoke to him through it that they must use it for nothing but pipes; and as it belonged alike to all tribes, the ground was sacred, and no weapons must be used or brought upon it." Pipestone National Monument was signed into existence in 1937 allowing quarrying to resume by Native Americans of any federally-recognized tribe, and officially opening the grounds to visitors. Leaving the NM, we stopped in the town of Pipestone for an excellent lunch at the _____________. Continuing west to I-29, south to I-90 and west on I-90 to Mitchell, SD and the “famous” Mitchell Corn Palace