The remnants of a once-prosperous town. A barn that was the centerpiece of a thriving ranch. A farmhouse that was once home. History lives in each abandoned structure scattered across the plains and hills of South Dakota. Barns & churches in the east, gas stations & cafes across the state’s mid-section, and mines & ranches in the scenic Black Hills all offer rustic photo opportunities and historic exploration.

See what you can uncover. Go exploring along two-lane highways, gravel roads, and old logging trails to discover some of these almost-forgotten treasures. (Just make sure you aren’t trespassing, putting yourself in a dangerous situation or disturbing some critter that’s claimed an abandoned place as their own.)

History remains in what was left behind. What will you discover on your South Dakota adventure?