I took this shot from a tower that is futher down the river from the actual Falls themselves. The almost mystical allure of the Falls has always been a powerful influence. This special place of natural beauty has been attracting visitors ever since the earliest prehistoric peoples occupied the great northern plains.Sioux Falls exists as a city today because the land speculators who staked town site claims here in 1856 came in search of the cascades, inspired by stories of their impressive beauty and power. It is on the three corners where the states of South Dakota, Iowa and Nebraska all come together. There is a nice park there with lots of folks having picnics and family reuniouns in that area. Fall Park (as it is called) has been dramatically transformed in recent years by comprehensive improvements, effectively reversing decades of neglect and decline.
The great scenic beauty of the Falls is now complemented by a beautiful park setting. Many new visitor amenities have been built, dense volunteer scrub brush has been cleared, alcohol has been banned from the park, and an intensive system of historic-style pedestrian lights makes Falls Park a safe, well-illuminated place after dark. Large floodlights illuminate the cascades themselves. The park is an inviting family environment day or night. We enjoyed our time there.
"The true way to live is to enjoy every moment as it passes, and surely it is in the everyday things around us that the beauty of life lies." ~ Laura Ingalls Wilder
