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When the Milwaukee Road laid its tracks across the James River valley in 1881, it named the new stop after Aberdeen, Scotland, the hometown of railroad president Alexander Mitchell. So many lines soon converged here that the town earned the nickname Hub City, and today it is the seat of Brown County and the largest city in northeastern South Dakota.
Aberdeen also has a storybook connection: L. Frank Baum lived here from 1888 to 1891, running a variety store and a weekly newspaper before he went on to write The Wonderful Wizard of Oz. The city celebrates him in Storybook Land at Wylie Park, where a whole Land of Oz section brings Dorothy's road to life. Downtown keeps solid brick blocks, the restored Milwaukee Road depot and the Dacotah Prairie Museum.
The surrounding prairie is wide open country for anglers and hunters, with walleye lakes and some of the state's best pheasant fields. Richmond Lake and Mina Lake are short drives away, and Sand Lake National Wildlife Refuge fills with snow geese during the spring and fall migrations.
A free storybook theme park inside Wylie Park with dozens of nursery-rhyme displays and a Land of Oz section honoring L. Frank Baum, who lived in Aberdeen. Kids can meet Dorothy's friends along a yellow brick road and ride small attractions. Go on a summer weekday morning for the shortest lines.
Aberdeen's big recreation park on the north edge of town, with a swimming lake and sandy beach, picnic shelters, walking paths, a campground and cabins. Storybook Land sits inside the park, so it is easy to combine both in one visit. Bring a picnic and plan a full afternoon in summer.
Housed in the historic Western Union Building downtown, listed on the National Register, this museum tells the story of the northern prairie through Native American artifacts, pioneer and railroad exhibits, mounted wildlife and changing art shows. Allow about an hour, and check the hours first, as they are shorter on weekends.
The handsome brick depot built by the Chicago, Milwaukee, St. Paul and Pacific Railroad recalls the era when rail lines made Aberdeen the Hub City of the Dakotas. It is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Walk around the exterior and watch for freight trains still passing on the nearby tracks.
Several blocks of downtown Main Street preserve brick and stone commercial buildings from the boom decades after the railroad arrived. Today they hold local shops, cafes and offices. A slow walk from the Dacotah Prairie Museum toward the depot shows off the best facades and decorative cornices.
The Brown County Courthouse, with its classical columns and dome, has been the seat of county government since the early 1900s and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. It is a working courthouse, so admire the architecture from the lawn on weekends and step inside only during business hours.
A state recreation area about ten miles northwest of Aberdeen on the shores of Richmond Lake. Locals come for walleye and perch fishing, boating, picnic areas and wooded hiking trails that are rare on the open prairie. A South Dakota park entrance license is required, and there are campsites near the lake.
West of Aberdeen along US 12, this state recreation area wraps around Mina Lake with a swimming beach, a boat ramp, fishing docks and a campground. It is a popular summer escape for local families. Arrive early on hot weekends to find a spot near the water, and bring a park entrance license.
A large refuge of marshes and grasslands on the James River northeast of Aberdeen, famous for the huge flocks of snow geese that stop here during spring and fall migration. Pelicans, grebes and many waterbirds nest in summer. Bring binoculars and visit at sunrise or sunset when the birds are most active.
Held each August at the fairgrounds in Aberdeen, the Brown County Fair is one of the largest county fairs in South Dakota, with livestock barns, a carnival midway, grandstand concerts and plenty of fair food. Buy grandstand tickets early for headline shows and come in the evening when the midway lights up.
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South Dakota, United States
South Dakota, United States
South Dakota, United States
South Dakota, United States
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