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South Dakota Events

These 13 Candid Photos Show What Life Was Like In South Dakota In the 1940s

By Annie | Published March 13, 2019

No matter the decade, South Dakota has always been a somewhat peaceful and happy place to live, even during the toughest of times. Take, for instance, the late 1930s and early 1940s (a la World War II), which is shown here in these 13 amazing candid South Dakota photos:

1. Even in 1937, mining was still a profitable industry in SoDak, as demonstrated by this photo of a gold miner reading in his shack.

2. After reading, the same miner -- who works at Two Bit Creek near Deadwood -- is shown filing his pick.

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3. Despite it being early in SoDak's history, the state still had a number of already deserted mining towns, like this one located near Deadwood.

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4. Main Street Sisseton, c. 1939. Today the Roberts County, South Dakota town is home to an estimated 2,500 residents.

5. How cute are these 3 from Sisseton?!

6. As per the photographer, "Andrew Standing Soldier, Sioux Indian, painting mural in auditorium, OD School, Pine Ridge, South Dakota."

7. How picturesque is this shot of Aberdeen from 1940?

8. Does anyone recognize this spot in Pierre (c. 1940)?

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9. Rounding up cattle before a big blizzard... some things never change!

10. Heading to church on a cold, Miller, South Dakota, morning (1940).

11. A nearly white-out blizzard in Draper... looks familiar, doesn't it?

12. I wish Aberdeen still had this sign (c. 1942).

13. Last but not least is this amazing WWII Army-era billboard outside of Aberdeen (1942).

For even more vintage SoDak, click on We Will Never Forget These 10 Horrific Winter Storms That Have Gone Down In South Dakota History.

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