Remembering the Day the South Dakota State Fair Went Up in Flames
As thousands of visitors head to Huron for the South Dakota State Fair this week, families are enjoying the familiar sights of livestock shows, carnival rides, and fair food. While the annual event remains a beloved late-summer tradition, this week also marks the 49th anniversary of one of the most chaotic moments in the fair's long history.
Back on September 4, 1977, an estimated 93,000 visitors filled the fairgrounds, completely unaware of the disaster about to unfold. On that packed Sunday afternoon, a immense fire broke out, quite suddenly, in the historic 1916 Feed and Forage Building.
The 1977 Feed and Forage Building Fire at the SD State Fair
The Feed and Forage Building (Already over 60 years old at the time of the blaze) was mainly used to store livestock feed, grain and harvested crops while protecting them from weather, moisture, and pests. Within moments, flames engulfed the wooden structure, sending thick bands of smoke over the midways and drawing a huge amount of attention from panicked fairgoers across the grounds.
Multiple local fire departments rushed to the scene to contain the blaze before it could spread to neighboring structures or spark a mass panic among the colossal crowd. Despite the heavy crowds and the destruction of the 61-year-old landmark, emergency crews managed to extinguish the fire without a single serious injury or loss of life reported.
Today, the 1977 fire stands as a dramatic chapter in South Dakota State Fair history. While the Feed and Forage building was lost, the fair reemerged the following year, proving that even a major disaster could not derail the heart of South Dakota's favorite late-summer tradition.
To learn more about the history of the South Dakota State Fair, check out the fair's website.
Story Source: South Dakota State Fair Website
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