South Dakota is home to many places that are considered sacred by the Native Americans who lived here long before white settlers showed up. Here’s a place that local tribes feared, and refused to go, because of a long-standing legend that might send chills down your spine.

The Spirit Mound Historic Prairie is located just five miles north of Vermillion.
Terry Feuerborn/flickr
It's a 320-acre state park with an interesting history...and a creepy legend.

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Plains Indians knew the place well, and they stayed far away.
Jerry/flickr
They believed that Spirit Mound was occupied by evil spirits who appeared as little men, standing about 18 inches tall, with oversized heads. The demons had bows and arrows and could kill a man from far away, as he approached the mound. The tribes in the area flat-out refused to go anywhere near the mound, and when Lewis & Clark, with their party of ten men, climbed to its top on August 25, 1804, they did it without a Native American escort.

Lewis and Clark did not encounter any demon men, but when they got to the top of Spirit Mound, they had a stunning view of the surrounding prairie which included roaming bison and huge herds of elk.
This place is one of the few spots in the state where you can stand on the same ground as Lewis & Clark.
Nicole/flickr
This place was privately owned and used as a farm and cattle feed lot for many years. In 1974, it was placed on the National Register of Historic Places, and in 1986 the Spirit Mound Trust began working with the state and national parks systems to restore the prairie.

If you visit, take the .75-mile trail to the top of Spirit Mound, and witness the beautiful view of this prairie. Oh, and keep your eyes open for little demons...

What do you think about the legend of Spirit Mound?

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