This Is One Of The Most Underrated Historic Cities In The Midwest In 2026

South Dakota is known for monumental sculptures and gorgeous natural landscapes. People come from all around to visit Mount Rushmore National Memorial, where presidential faces are carved into granite, and the nearby Crazy Horse Memorial that continues to be sculpted as a tribute to Native American heritage. The state's slogan, "Great Faces, Great Places," aims to capture the essence of its sprawling farmlands and historical significance. Tucked up next to the southern Black Hills lies Hot Springs, an underrated historic town of the Midwest under 4,000 residents.

Hot Springs combines a mix of attractions from a significant paleontological site, a historic and charming downtown with gorgeous architecture, and, you guessed it, hot springs. Indigenous peoples have long recognized the healing powers of the warm springs of the area, which later supported the town's recognition as a thriving resort town. 

Hot Springs sits on the edge of the Black Hills in Fall River County. It's about an hour's drive south of Rapid City and a three-hour drive from Casper, Wyoming. The most convenient way to arrive is to fly into Rapid City Regional Airport and rent a vehicle. The state experiences all four seasons, and it can get quite snowy over the winter. Spring, summer, and fall bring pleasant temperatures for outdoor exploration, and the mineral springs bring consistent enjoyment regardless of the season.

The area's history shines brightly at the Mammoth Site, recognized as the world's largest mammoth research facility and one of North America's premier fossil interpretive centers. Discovered in 1974 during prep for a housing development, the site preserves an ancient sinkhole trap from the Late Ice Age, about 140,000 to 190,000 years ago. More than 60 mammoths have been found here alongside at least 87 other Ice Age animals. It is an active dig site enclosed in a museum building, and visitors can explore the indoor excavation area on a tour. Learn about the Pleistocene environments through a self-guided tour or their numerous educational programs. Open year round, this is the only facility of its kind in North America. 

Downtown Hot Springs has a historical charm all of its own, taking visitors through its history with a collection of over 35 sandstone structures built mostly in the late 1800s and 1900s. Local quarries supplied the pink, white, and tan sandstone to create a distinct palette of varied hues throughout downtown. Notable buildings include the Fall River County Courthouse and the Minnekahta Block buildings.

The Battle Mountain Sanitarium, now part of the VA Black Hills Health Care System, represents an architectural and historical highlight as well. It opened in 1907 as the first and only National Home for Disabled Volunteer Soldiers focused on medical care. Its pink sandstone Mission/Spanish Colonial Revival-style buildings overlook the town, and a grand staircase of 204 pink sandstone steps links it to the resort district. It's a glimpse into Civil War veteran care and early 20th-century architectural design.

Hot Springs also provides a strategic location to major attractions of South Dakota, making it a wonderful place to explore the greater Black Hills area without the intensity of larger cities. Wind Cave National Park, one of the most underrated parks in the U.S., lies just 17 minutes away by car, offers scenic landscapes above and below ground, and is one of the world's largest and most complex cave systems. The treat is that it's also two parks in one, with 33,000-plus acres of prairie and forests. It's a wonderful place to go for a hike and see some iconic South Dakota wildlife like bison, elk, and prairie dogs. 

The town's mineral springs aren't to be missed and are offered in a range of styles. Evans Plunge was established in 1890, making it the oldest tourist attraction in the Black Hills. It's also the world's largest indoor warm-water pool and sits at a comfortable 87 degrees. Of all the springs, Evans Plunge is the most family-friendly, featuring water slides and other amenities for the whole group. Moccasin Springs Natural Mineral Spa has six outdoor pools in a tranquil, spa-like setting, and Cascade Falls is the most scenic. It's a warm swimming hole fed by natural springs, best visited in the summer for a natural oasis feel.

The town of Hot Springs hosts numerous seasonal events, like the Fall River Flight Festival every August (previously the Fall River Hot Air Balloon Festival). During this free three-day event, taking place August 22-24 in 2026, hot air balloons drift overhead while attendees visit market vendors selling handicrafts and food and listen to live music. For more fun in South Dakota, don't miss its riverside capital that shines in the winter.