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:
- Even in 1937, mining was still a profitable industry in SoDak, as demonstrated by this photo of a gold miner reading in his shack.
Yale/Russell Lee
- After reading, the same miner – who works at Two Bit Creek near Deadwood – is shown filing his pick.
Yale/Russell Lee
- 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.
Yale/Russell Lee
- Main Street Sisseton, c. 1939. Today the Roberts County, South Dakota town is home to an estimated 2,500 residents.
Yale/John Vachon
- How cute are these 3 from Sisseton?!
Yale/John Vachon
- As per the photographer, “Andrew Standing Soldier, Sioux Indian, painting mural in auditorium, OD School, Pine Ridge, South Dakota.”
Yale/John Vachon
- How picturesque is this shot of Aberdeen from 1940?
Yale/John Vachon
- Does anyone recognize this spot in Pierre (c. 1940)?
Yale/John Vachon
- Rounding up cattle before a big blizzard… some things never change!
Yale/John Vachon
- Heading to church on a cold, Miller, South Dakota, morning (1940).
Yale/John Vachon
- A nearly white-out blizzard in Draper… looks familiar, doesn’t it?
Yale/John Vachon
- I wish Aberdeen still had this sign (c. 1942).
Yale/John Vachon
- Last but not least is this amazing WWII Army-era billboard outside of Aberdeen (1942).
Yale/John Vachon
For even more vintage SoDak, click on We Will Never Forget These 10 Horrific Winter Storms That Have Gone Down In South Dakota History.
Yale/Russell Lee
Yale/Russell Lee
Yale/John Vachon
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