Dignity Of Earth And Sky S.D. | A Tribute to Native American Tribes

It is extremely easy to miss this striking sculpture because it cannot be seen from the road, but it is an essential stop to plan if you are traveling along I90 in South Dakota. The artwork is a powerful tribute to the courage and perseverance of the Native American people who have for so long called South Dakota home.

The awe-inspiring Dignity Of Earth And Sky sculpture is a stunning combination of art and history. Located on a bluff between exits 263 and 265 on Interstate 90 near Chamberlain, South Dakota, the stainless steel, 50-foot-tall statue was designed by sculptor Dale Lamphere to honor the cultures of the Lakota and Dakota people. 

Representing the rich Native American culture of South Dakota, the 50-foot Native American woman gracefully wears a dress patterned after a two-hide dress of the 1850s. In her hands, she holds an outstretched quilt featuring 128 stainless steel blue diamond shapes designed to flutter in the wind. During the day, the quilt – a representation of respect, honor, and admiration in Native American culture – glitters in the sun with color-changing pieces that move with the wind. At night, LED lights cause the diamond shapes to glow in the night sky, casting a peaceful presence easily visible from Interstate 90. 

Dignity of Earth and Sky Statue Location

Dignity Of Earth And Sky is a sculpture on a bluff overlooking the Missouri River near Chamberlain, South Dakota. The 50-foot (15.24 meter) high stainless steel statue by South Dakota artist laureate Dale Claude Lamphere depicts an Indigenous woman in a Plains-style dress receiving a star quilt. 

According to the sculptor, the purpose of the statue is to honor the cultures of the Lakota and Dakota peoples. 

The sculptor used three Native American women from the Rapid City, SD area as the models for the sculpture. The artist began by drawing the form and then sculpting a one-eighth-scale model. The sculpture was created in an isolated area near the Cheyenne River, east of Rapid City, SD, and later moved to the installation site. The statue boldly proclaims that South Dakota’s Native cultures are alive, standing with dignity.

The statue was a $1 million gift from Norm and Eunabel McKie of Rapid City to all people of South Dakota. The gift was to help celebrate South Dakota’s 125th anniversary of statehood. 

Chamberlain Rest Area’s Lewis and Clark Interpretive Center

The rest area sits on the eastern bank of the Missouri River. Here you will also find the Lewis and Clark Interpretive Center. It is open from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. every day and admission is free.

Inside, you’ll find displays and information about the Lewis & Clark Expedition of 1803 to 1806, which took the explorers through what is now South Dakota.

In addition, you will learn all about the keelboats that carried the expedition down the Missouri River. You can climb the staircase into a 55-foot-long replica keelboat. Of course, this perspective offers some stunning views of the valley and river below.

This was a great little museum that taught us new things regarding the Lewis and Clark expedition.

Also, be sure to step outside and walk around the grounds for the most impressive sights of this rest stop. Here the views of the Missouri River are stunning.

Our Experience 

We had been on the road for approximately 6 hours between stops on our trip to Yellowstone N.P. It was time to pull over, stretch our legs, and make some lunch. 

If you have ever traveled I90 through the Dakotas you know that the view can get boring at times. In addition, there are not a lot of places to pull over to relax and stretch 

Our hunger pains encouraged us to pull into this rest area with no idea what we were about to find.

We spent about an hour here between lunch, viewing the museum, and the statue. This is a great example of being able to learn while traveling in an enjoyable way.  

If you are traveling through the area, east or west, along I90 we highly recommend pulling into this rest area.

Here you can view all the exhibits, stretch your legs, and have a great picnic before heading back to the interstate.

Of course, random stops like this along America’s highways, and byways, is what makes RV travel so exciting. You never know what you will find and oftentimes in the most random places. The lesson here is don’t be over-focused on getting from point A to point B. There is a lot in between, and you never know what you will come across.

To learn more about this unique rest stop by checking out the Travel South Dakota website.