City: Custer, SD

Category: Tours & Attractions

Telephone: (605) 673-4404

Address: US 16 West

Description: Ignore the old saw “Don’t take any wooden nickels” when you get to the National Museum of Woodcarving: You’re going to need three of them to take full advantage of the displays. The museum, 2 miles west of town, features the work of Dr. Harley Niblack, a Denver chiropractor who gave up his practice at age 42 to devote his time to wood carving and animation. His talent in that area made him one of Disneyland’s earliest animators, and some of his work has been displayed by the Smithsonian Institution. When you buy your ticket, you’ll get enough wooden nickels to set three of the carvings in motion. But before entering the exhibit area, you’ll want to watch videos in the Wooden Nickel Theater about the collection and about wood carving. The self-guided tour ends with a look at work by some of the nation’s other top wood-carvers and a stop in the gallery where you can buy quality carvings. An adjacent gift shop sells snacks and souvenirs. The museum is open from May 1 until late Oct. Hours vary throughout the season, so call ahead.