Wall Drug is something of a legend. No doubt you've seen signs advertising Wall Drug; Paris Metro riders have seen Wall Drug signs. So have rail commuters in Kenya, bus passengers in London, and visitors to the Taj Mahal. It seems they're everywhere.

Wall Drug started, as you might imagine, as a drug store in the middle of nowhere. Ted Hustead was a Nebraska native who moved to Wall and opened a tiny drug store in 1931. Five years later, it was still a tiny drug store. Dorothy, Ted's wife, thought that the travelers driving past their store must be thirsty, and suggested that Ted put up a sign outside of town advertising free ice water at Wall Drug.

Ted thought it was a silly idea, but he was desperate and put up the sign. By the time he got back, thirsty tourists were already lining up for their free ice water. They've been stopping ever since.

Wall Drug has grown into the principal industry in Wall. It employs nearly a third of the town's residents. Wall has more public swimming pools per citizen than any other town in the world, thanks to Wall Drug. If every Wall resident decided to rent a motel room in town on the same night, there'd still be over 400 vacancies.

It's quite the place. And you can still stop in and get a free glass of ice water at Wall Drug.

For more info visit http://www.walldrug.com/

Also be sure to check out http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wall_Drug_Store