Corn Palace Murals

Below is a list of themes that the Corn Palace has done since its inception!
  • 1892: No Central Theme (Patterns)
  • 1893: Organization Symbols (Gar, Masons, etc.)
  • 1894 - 1909: Basically Patterns with Corner Designs
  • 1910: Indian Design
  • 1911: Egyptian Motif
  • 1912: Oriental
  • 1913: Western Scenes
  • 1914: Dutch Scenes
  • 1915: Peace and Plenty (Birds and Goats)
  • 1916: Military / Patriotic
  • 1917: Same as 1916 except Ambulance instead of Cannon
  • 1918: Patriotic (Statue of Liberty, Ship, Liberty Bell)
  • 1919: Cornucopias and Patterns
  • 1920: Held in a Tent
  • 1921: Disarmament
  • 1922: South Dakota Scenes (Modern and Historical)
  • 1923: Rising Sun and Griffins
  • 1924: Buffalo, Elk, Griffin, etc.
  • 1925: Stylized Designs (Sundial, Grapes, Urn)
  • 1926: South Dakota when the White Man Arrived
  • 1927: Landscapes and Geese Flying
  • 1928: Humorous Presidential Campaign (Coolidge, etc.)
  • 1929: Mitchell’s 50th Anniversary (History and Development of the State in 10-Year Periods)
  • 1930: Landscapes
  • 1931: Lake Mitchell, Radio Station, Mountain and Water Scenes
  • 1932: Lake Mitchell, Radio Station, Mountain and Water Scenes
  • 1933: Service Organizations (Symbols)
  • 1934: Highway and Sky-ways
  • 1935: The Forgotten Man “The New Deals” Humorous
  • 1936: Black Hills (Real Pine Trees)
  • 1937: Arabian Theme (Camels and Minaret Mosques)
  • 1938: Conservation of the Wild Life of the State
  • 1939: 50 Years of South Dakota Statehood
  • 1940: America First
  • 1941: South Dakota Hunters Paradise
  • 1942: Allied Victory
  • 1943: Allied Victory
  • 1944: War Theme
  • 1945: War Theme
  • 1946: America the Beautiful (Indians and Wild Animals)
  • 1947: No Theme (SD Farm House, Animals, Birds, Proposed Fort Randall Dam)
  • 1948: Indian Theme
  • 1949: Indian and Early Dakotan Pictures
  • 1950: Indian Theme Designs and Symbols
  • 1951: South Dakota History (Indians to Modern Times)
  • 1952: City and Country Murals (Theme?)
  • 1953: Indian Motif
  • 1954: Agricultural, Business, Religious, and Social Phases of Life in South Dakota
  • 1955: Animals of South Dakota
  • 1956: 75th Anniversary of Mitchell
  • 1957: Popular Athletic Games and Attractions in the State
  • 1958: Modes of Transportation
  • 1959: Scenes of the Old West
  • 1960: Western, Jesuit Priest, etc.
  • 1961: Territorial Centennial


  • 1962: Yesterday and Today
  • 1963: Wildlife and Hunting
  • 1964: South Dakota Scenes
  • 1965: Scenes from Nature
  • 1966: Dancing and Branding
  • 1967: 75th Anniversary of Corn Palace
  • 1968: South Dakota Fauna
  • 1969: Space Age
  • 1970: Forest Fire, Fishing, Pollution
  • 1971: Mother Goose Rhymes
  • 1972: Relaxing in South Dakota
  • 1973: Salute to Agriculture
  • 1974: Founding Fathers
  • 1975: Bicentennial
  • 1976: Bicentennial of the USA
  • 1977: USA, Civil War, Indian, Races
  • 1978: The Fine Arts
  • 1979: South Dakota Birds
  • 1980: Recreation
  • 1981: Salute to Oscar Howe
  • 1982: Salute to Oscar Howe
  • 1983: South Dakota Animals
  • 1984: South Dakota Hi-Lites
  • 1985: Ag Profess (Agriculture)
  • 1986: First Americans
  • 1987: South Dakota Horseless Carriages
  • 1988: In Service to Others
  • 1989: Celebrate the Century – State History (1889-1989)
  • 1990: South Dakota Artists
  • 1991: South Dakota, The Good Life
  • 1992: Centennial, Past Murals
  • 1993: Centennial, Oscar Howes
  • 1994: Myths, Legends, and Fables
  • 1995: Salute to Rodeo
  • 1996: Memories
  • 1997: Hunt South Dakota
  • 1998: Youth in Action
  • 1999: Building a Nation
  • 2000: Millennium Corn
  • 2001: Millennium Corn
  • 2002: South Dakota Great Events
  • 2003: Scenic South Dakota
  • 2004: Lewis and Clark
  • 2005: Life on the Farm
  • 2006: Salute to Rodeo
  • 2007: Salute to Rodeo (left because of severe drought)
  • 2008: Everyday Heroes
  • 2009: America’s Destinations
  • 2010: Through the Ages (Transportation)
  • 2011: American Pride
  • 2012: Saluting Youth Activities
  • 2013: We Celebrate
  • 2014: Remember When
  • 2015: South Dakota’s 125th
  • 2016: Rock of Ages
  • 2017: South Dakota Weather
  • 2018: Salute to Military
  • 2019: South Dakota's Home Grown
  • 2020: South Dakota - Stay Here Play Here
  • 2021: South Dakota - Stay Here Play Here (Covid Year) No staff hired, just 5-murals replaced.
  • 2022: Under The Big Top