Corn Palace Murals Themes Over The Years
Click on links to learn more about each moment in American History depicted in the 2026 Murals "250 Years of America".
Below is a list of themes that the Corn Palace has done since its inception!
- 1892: No Central Theme (Patterns)
- 1893: Organization Symbols (Gar, Masons, etc.)
- 1894 - 1909: Basically Patterns with Corner Designs
- 1910: Indian Design
- 1911: Egyptian Motif
- 1912: Oriental
- 1913: Western Scenes
- 1914: Dutch Scenes
- 1915: Peace and Plenty (Birds and Goats)
- 1916: Military / Patriotic
- 1917: Same as 1916 except Ambulance instead of Cannon
- 1918: Patriotic (Statue of Liberty, Ship, Liberty Bell)
- 1919: Cornucopias and Patterns
- 1920: Held in a Tent
- 1921: Disarmament
- 1922: South Dakota Scenes (Modern and Historical)
- 1923: Rising Sun and Griffins
- 1924: Buffalo, Elk, Griffin, etc.
- 1925: Stylized Designs (Sundial, Grapes, Urn)
- 1926: South Dakota when the White Man Arrived
- 1927: Landscapes and Geese Flying
- 1928: Humorous Presidential Campaign (Coolidge, etc.)
- 1929: Mitchell’s 50th Anniversary (History and Development of the State in 10-Year Periods)
- 1930: Landscapes
- 1931: Lake Mitchell, Radio Station, Mountain and Water Scenes
- 1932: Lake Mitchell, Radio Station, Mountain and Water Scenes
- 1933: Service Organizations (Symbols)
- 1934: Highway and Sky-ways
- 1935: The Forgotten Man “The New Deals” Humorous
- 1936: Black Hills (Real Pine Trees)
- 1937: Arabian Theme (Camels and Minaret Mosques)
- 1938: Conservation of the Wild Life of the State
- 1939: 50 Years of South Dakota Statehood
- 1940: America First
- 1941: South Dakota Hunters Paradise
- 1942: Allied Victory
- 1943: Allied Victory
- 1944: War Theme
- 1945: War Theme
- 1946: America the Beautiful (Indians and Wild Animals)
- 1947: No Theme (SD Farm House, Animals, Birds, Proposed Fort Randall Dam)
- 1948: Indian Theme
- 1949: Indian and Early Dakotan Pictures
- 1950: Indian Theme Designs and Symbols
- 1951: South Dakota History (Indians to Modern Times)
- 1952: City and Country Murals (Theme?)
- 1953: Indian Motif
- 1954: Agricultural, Business, Religious, and Social Phases of Life in South Dakota
- 1955: Animals of South Dakota
- 1956: 75th Anniversary of Mitchell
- 1957: Popular Athletic Games and Attractions in the State
- 1958: Modes of Transportation
- 1959: Scenes of the Old West
- 1960: Western, Jesuit Priest, etc.
- 1961: Territorial Centennial
- 1962: Yesterday and Today
- 1963: Wildlife and Hunting
- 1964: South Dakota Scenes
- 1965: Scenes from Nature
- 1966: Dancing and Branding
- 1967: 75th Anniversary of Corn Palace
- 1968: South Dakota Fauna
- 1969: Space Age
- 1970: Forest Fire, Fishing, Pollution
- 1971: Mother Goose Rhymes
- 1972: Relaxing in South Dakota
- 1973: Salute to Agriculture
- 1974: Founding Fathers
- 1975: Bicentennial
- 1976: Bicentennial of the USA
- 1977: USA, Civil War, Indian, Races
- 1978: The Fine Arts
- 1979: South Dakota Birds
- 1980: Recreation
- 1981: Salute to Oscar Howe
- 1982: Salute to Oscar Howe
- 1983: South Dakota Animals
- 1984: South Dakota Hi-Lites
- 1985: Ag Profess (Agriculture)
- 1986: First Americans
- 1987: South Dakota Horseless Carriages
- 1988: In Service to Others
- 1989: Celebrate the Century – State History (1889-1989)
- 1990: South Dakota Artists
- 1991: South Dakota, The Good Life
- 1992: Centennial, Past Murals
- 1993: Centennial, Oscar Howes
- 1994: Myths, Legends, and Fables
- 1995: Salute to Rodeo
- 1996: Memories
- 1997: Hunt South Dakota
- 1998: Youth in Action
- 1999: Building a Nation
- 2000: Millennium Corn
- 2001: Millennium Corn
- 2002: South Dakota Great Events
- 2003: Scenic South Dakota
- 2004: Lewis and Clark
- 2005: Life on the Farm
- 2006: Salute to Rodeo
- 2007: Salute to Rodeo (left because of severe drought)
- 2008: Everyday Heroes
- 2009: America’s Destinations
- 2010: Through the Ages (Transportation)
- 2011: American Pride
- 2012: Saluting Youth Activities
- 2013: We Celebrate
- 2014: Remember When
- 2015: South Dakota’s 125th
- 2016: Rock of Ages
- 2017: South Dakota Weather
- 2018: Salute to Military
- 2019: South Dakota's Home Grown
- 2020: South Dakota - Stay Here Play Here
- 2021: South Dakota - Stay Here Play Here (Covid Year) No staff hired, just 5-murals replaced.
- 2022: Under The Big Top
- 2023: Under The Big Top remained(due to drought)
- 2024 Famous South Dakotans
- 2025 Wonders of the World
- 2026 250 Years of America