Mining in the Black HillsThe federal government and the Sioux Nation signed a treaty in 1868, which stipulated that the U.S. agreed to cede lands west of the Missouri River to the Sioux an abandon all military posts. The government was also expected to prevent settlers and miners from encroaching into the territory. However, a two-month military expedition into the Black Hills led by Colonel George Armstrong Custer (who would later be killed at the Battle of Little Bighorn) in 1874 altered the situation for good. They found gold near the present-day town of Custer and soon word of the discovery spread, attracting thousands miners looking for gold and others looking to set up businesses to support them.The biggest discovered occurred on April 9, 1876 when Fred and Moses Manuel, Hank Harney, and Alex Engh found a gold outcropping that was a part of one of the biggest gold veins found in the country. They named it Homestake and it would eventually become the largest gold mine in North America. Hard rock mining began in the 1880s as by then all of the surface gold had been found. Mines were opened up in the vicinity of Lead and Deadwood but the only one to last was the Homestake Mine, which operated for 126 years until increasing production costs forced its closure in 2002.

The Black Hills Mining Museum opened in 1986.

The Homestake Mine was the largest gold mine in North America and operated for 126 years.

Website

The Black Hills Mining Museum was founded in 1986 to preserve and promote the rich history of the industry in the region. The museum features exhibits in which various items, memorabilia and artifacts are displayed. There is also a realistic underground gold mine tour created by miners of the closed Homestake Gold Mine. It shows how mining evolved over 125 years in terms of the changes in mining clothing, tools, techniques, and equipment. There is also a 20-minute movie about mining in the Black Hills. Visitors can also pan for (and keep) gold in the museum's indoor panning tank. 

Black Hills Mining Museum

This extended drive through northwestern South Dakota includes numerous museums related to Western history, mining and ranching, automobiles and motorcycles, and the culture and history of Native Americans.

Within the Black Hills mountain range of South Dakota is the rock formation known as Bear Butte. This geological marvel is recognized as a National Historic Landmark and is also home to a state park. The site continues to serve as a sacred religious site to local Native American tribes as well. Standing at an elevation of 4,426 feet, Bear Butte was formed from a welling of magma that failed to crack through the earth’s crust which hardened into the mountain that stands today.

The site became well-known to settlers of European descent after George A. Custer led an expedition to the Black Hills in 1874. Custer was sent out in search for gold and a place to set a military fort. After he found gold in the Black Hills, Bear Butte became a reference point when following Custer’s trail. This discovery brought many to the area and led to the government's decision to break the treaty of 1868 that declared that the Black Hills belonged to the Sioux. A gold rush followed Custer’s find, yet relatively little gold was found in the Black Hills.&nbsp;When prospectors violated the treaty of 1868, the Sioux asked for the government to enforce their treaty. When the government failed to prevent encroachment on Sioux lands, some Native tribes retaliated against the settlers. This conflict led to the U.S. Government confiscating the land in 1877 and forcibly relocating the Sioux.

Before the expedition of the Black Hills, the Bovee family were area&nbsp;settlers and traders. Ezra Bovee homesteaded at the base of Bear Butte. As legal owners of the site, the Bovee family were approached by the local tribes and granted permission for tribal members to continue to hold religious ceremonies at the mountain. From this constant exposure to the mountain and ceremonies, the Bovee family urged for the site to be turned into a national park.

Bear Butte became a state park in 1961. Today measures are taken to protect the religious rights of the tribes who visit the mountain. Visitors are advised to not touch religious artifacts and stay off restricted land. Some religious ceremonies are available for public viewing, and the site also holds hiking trails for its visitors. With the recent increase in people and overall development to the area, there are concerns from the local tribes. One of these concerns is noise, with the tribes stating that volume of traffic in the summer occasionally breaks the peace of religious ceremonies and harmony of the mountain.

This dome-shaped mass of igneous rock, known to geologists as a "laccolith," has long been a sacred place to area Native American tribes. The site is part of Bear Butte State Park and was elevated to the status of a National Historic Landmark in 1981. Standing at 4,426 feet, Bear Butte was seen as a place to connect to nature and sacred spirits by area tribes for centuries. The site was used by explorers of European descent as a reference point, especially following the influx of fortune seekers in the area when gold was discovered in the Black Hills. Since 1961 Bear Butte has been recognized as a state park, allowing hiking and viewing of the mountain. Native tribes continue to hold ceremonies at the site. While some of the ceremonies are restricted to tribal members, others are open to the public. 

Bear Butte

The museum preserves the history of Fort Meade, a cavalry post established in 1878 that was an active military installation until 1944. Ostensibly built to protect US territory and stage coach routes, the soldiers were more often called upon to protect the illegal white immigrants who were invading Sioux territory. Even though federal law as established by the Black Hills Treaty made obligated the US government to prevent its citizens from encroaching upon Sioux territory, the soldiers were soon deployed against the Sioux.  

Old Fort Meade Museum

The origins of the Sturgis Motorcycle Rally date back to 1938 when a local motorcycle club called the Jackpine Gypsies held the first rally, which featured just one a race called the "Black Hills Classic." The club itself was founded by Clarence "Pappy" Hoel, who passed away in 1989. Over time, the rally grew and eventually included hill climb and motorcross races. Except during World War II, the rally has taken place every year since 1938. Today, it is one of the biggest motorcycle rallies in the world, attracting hundreds of thousands of people each year. The museum was established in 2001 and is located at the intersection of Junction Ave. and Main Street.

The Sturgis Motorcycle Museum & Hall of Fame is a non-profit organization dedicated to preserving and promoting the culture and history of motorcycling. To this end, the museum collects motorcycles and memorabilia, and honors the individuals in the hall of fame who have made an a positive impact in the motorcycling community. Visitors to the museum will see 85 vintage motorcycles on display, some of which are very rare, as well as art, photographs, patches, and a variety of other motorcycle-related items. Notable motorcycles include the 1982 Harley Davidson FXR Super Glide 2, the 1912 "Flying Merkel", a 1922 ACE Inline 4, and Cabana Dan's Triple Lindy. The museum also the story of the Sturgis Motorcycle Rally, which occurs every year in August. 

Sturgis Motorcycle Museum & Hall of Fame

They had collected and restored cars for many years as a hobby before purchasing ten Saabs in 2012 of the General Motors Heritage Collection. These additional cars compelled them to think about opening a museum, since their expanded collection meant something bigger than themselves. With help from the Saab community and other car enthusiasts, Tom and Patti opened the museum in 2015. They considered other cities but chose Sturgis for its high elevation (3,500 feet, which helps preserve cars), sunny weather in the summer, and the annual Sturgis Motorcycle Rally. There are also many sites to see in the region such as Mount Rushmore and the historic town of Deadwood. Sturgis also has several car clubs. Given all of these factors, Sturgis was a logical choice.

The Saab Heritage Car Museum USA's mission is to preserve, inspire, and educate visitors about Saab automobiles and how they contributed to American car culture. Another point of emphasis is on repair education. There are more than 80 vintage and newer cars on display, including the oldest Saab in the country and rare Saabs from the GM Heritage Collection. Most of the cars are drivable.

Saab Heritage Car Museum USA

Seth Bullock was born in what is now Ontario, Canada in 1849. He and his family eventually moved to Michigan. His father, a British Army officer, was a strict disciplinarian but his mother, who was a native of Scotland, was more kindhearted. Apparently, Bullock ran away in his early teens (it is unclear why, one source said Bullock was either bored or unhappy); he returned, but then a few years later he ran away again, this time to Montana where his sister was living at the time. For the last time, he went back to Michigan and finally left his family for good in 1867 when he moved to Helena, Montana.In Helena, Bullock met wholesale grocer James Gosling and became an auctioneer and commission merchant, selling merchandise and property on behalf of others. He eventually severed ties with Gosling and became an independent auctioneer. During these years, Bullock got involved in local issues to not only bring benefit to the community but to make a name for himself. A staunch Republican, he ran for territorial legislature in 1867 but was not nominated by party; however, he ran again in 1871 and this time was elected. He served until 1873 when he became sheriff of Lewis and Clark County. It was there Bullock earned a hard-nosed reputation as a lawman. He got into a gunfight with a man, Clem Watson, who had stolen a horse. Watson was apparently apprehended and Bullock hanged him soon after.Solomon "Sol" Star was a Bavarian-born Jewish immigrant. who came to the United States at the age of 10. He, along with 140 other frontiersmen, came to Deadwood from Helena, Montana at the onset of the Black Hills Gold Rush. After his term as sheriff ended, Bullock formed a partnership with Star, whom he met in 1871, to open a hardware store in Deadwood in 1876. Business prospects looked promising in South Dakota as gold had recently been discovered there. Both recognized an opportunity to sell hardware to miners, who would soon flock to the state in large numbers. The day Bullock arrived, famous Western figure Wild Bill Hickok was murdered. To help restore order to the lawless town, Bullock became sheriff. While he served in this role, the hardware store thrived, becoming one of most successful in the Black Hills. In the coming years, they would invest in other business interests including a flour mill and mining. Bullock also helped found the town of Belle Fourche. He would later become a U.S. Marshal and Star Deadwood mayor. In 1884, Bullock met Roosevelt and they started a lifelong friendship.In 1896, the hardware store in Deadwood burned down. In its place, Bullock and Star decided to build the hotel, a luxurious 63-room establishment. Bullock would later be appointed forest supervisor of the Black Hills and then U.S. Marshal for South Dakota. He died of cancer on September 23, 1919 and is buried in Mount Moriah Cemetery here in Deadwood. The building became a hardware store once again in 1976. It was renovated back into a hotel in the early 1990s.

Erected in 1896, the Bullock Hotel is one of many historic buildings that line Main Street in downtown Deadwood. It is named after one of its builders and Deadwood's first sheriff and friend of President Theodore Roosevelt, Seth Bullock, who was depicted in the HBO series "Deadwood." The other builder was Bullock's Jewish business partner, Sol Star, who was also portrayed in the series. The hotel is the first and oldest hotel in the city and continues to operate today. It still retains some original interior features including the skylight and large staircase.

Bullock Hotel

William E. Adams arrived in Deadwood with his brother, Avery, in 1877. They built and opened a grocery store on Main Street they called Banner Grocery. The building burned down in a fire but, undeterred, they built new store. Adams married his wife, Lucile, in 1880 and they had two daughters together. As the business grew, Adams moved his family to a number of increasingly larger homes including this property and their final home built 1892 at 22 Van Buren Street. The elegant, Queen Anne-style home today operates as a house museum and features oak woodwork, stained glass windows, and original furnishings.Adams built a new store in 1894 that he expanded in the coming years as he transitioned from retail to wholesale. The building grew significantly; it covered a whole city block and was four-stories tall. As a result of his success, Adams became a prominent figure, not only contributing to the economy but, as note above, serving as mayor six times. Wanting to contribute further, Adams decided to build the museum. He also built it in honor of Lucile and his daughters who, sadly, had passed away. The house is also a contributing property of the Deadwood Historic District.

Operated by Historic Deadwood, Inc., the historic Adams Museum is dedicated to preserving and promoting the history of the city and the Black Hills. The museum is named after its founder, businessman, and six-term mayor, William E. Adams. He built the museum in 1930 and donated it to the city. The building is a fine example of Classical Revival architecture. The museum features many historical items on display including personal belongings, memorabilia, and artifacts of well-known historical figures of Deadwood. Highlights include a large 7.346 troy ounce gold nugget, a pencil sketch of the famous Western historical figure Wild Bill Hickok by illustrator N.C. Wyeth, and a rare specimen of a plesiosaur (an ancient marine reptile). The building is a contributing property of the Deadwood Historic District, which is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Historic Deadwood also operates the Days of '76 Museum, the Historic Adams House (see below), and the Homestake Adams Research Center, which holds one of the largest collection of Black Hills archival materials in the country.

Adams Museum

Homestake Mine operated for more than 126 years, starting in 1876 when a large deposit of gold was found. High production costs and other factors led to the mine's closure in 2001. Science research began in the mid-1960s when chemist Dr. Ray Davis from the Brookhaven National Laboratory built a solar neutrino experiment in a cavern at the 4,850 Level (as in, 4,850 feet below the surface). The experiment, which did detect neutrinos, confirmed the mine's usefulness to science research. In 2002, Davis received the Nobel Prize in Physics for his work.After the mine closed, the National Science Foundation initiated talks with the owner of the mine, Barrick Gold Corporation, about opening a laboratory in the mine. The company agreed to keep pumping water out of the mine but eventually stopped because doing so was very expensive. Eventually, Barrick donated the mine to the state in 2006. The lab's namesake, T. Denny Sanford, donated $70 million for the project and the state committed funds as well. The lab was established the next year. There was so much water in the mine that it the took two years to pump it all out. Current experiments include searching for dark matter and antiparticles, studying what happens to dying stars, and building a laser scanner for Mars research. As of November 2019, a new project called Deep Underground Neutrino Experiment (DUNE), is being developed in the mine. Large caverns are being excavated and once the work is done, DUNE will start to be installed and become operational by 2028.

The Sanford Lab Homestake Visitor Center is the public face of the Sanford Underground Research Facility (also referred to as Sanford Lab), which is located in the old Homestake gold mine that closed in 2002. The visitor center building is located directly next to the mine's open pit, which is 1,250 feet deep. Sanford Lab is a physics research facility that works to better our understanding of the universe. It conducts experiments deep below the surface to avoid cosmic radiation, which disrupts the experiments. Scientists at the lab also conduct experiments in biology, geology, and engineering. The visitor center features exhibits about the lab, the city of Lead, and the history of the Homestake mine. Visitors will see mining and science artifacts, historic pictures, videos, and a 3-D model of the mine. The center also offers tours of the facility.  

Sanford Lab Homestake Visitor Center

As noted above, the church was originally built in 1891 and appears to have been expanded slightly in 1907. The Lutheran congregation itself was organized in 1889 by Finnish missionary Reverend Henry Tanner. They first worshipped in a Methodist Church and temperance hall before deciding to build the church. The building features three lancet-arched windows on each side and belfry at the front. The church was one of three Finnish Lutheran churches in Lead but is the only to have survived to today (the congregation built a new church in 1963). The current location of the church is not the original; it was moved here when the new church was built in 1963.

Erected in 1891, the Finnish Evangelical Lutheran Church is one of the more unique historic structures in Lead. A simple one-story building, the church is significant in that it is only Finnish building in the town still standing. There is also a unique painting above the altar created by a miner named Charles Alaniva in 1907. The church was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1985. It has been a gift shop and is now a boutique art and clothing store.

Finnish Evangelical Lutheran Church

Seth Bullock led an interesting and productive life. He was born in Ontario, Canada in 1874, and grew up in Michigan. As a teenager, he ran way to Montana, where his sister was living, but soon returned to Michigan. In 1867, now as an adult, he moved to Helena, Montana, where he was elected to the Territorial Senate in 1871. He later became sheriff of Lewis and Clark County and then started to work as an auctioneer for businessman Solomon Star. They would remain friends and partners for the rest of their lives. Upon hearing the discovery of gold in the Black Hills, in 1876 they moved to Deadwood, which was just a lawless mining camp at the time. There, Bullock became sheriff once again and he and Star opened a hardware store. Bullock and Star would engage in many other business ventures in the coming years. Eventually, Bullock also became a U.S. Marshal by the time he met Roosevelt in the mid-1880s. Roosevelt, who was deputy sheriff of Medora County, North Dakota at the time, had captured a horse thief whose nickname was "Crazy Steve." Apparently, it seems that Roosevelt and a couple companions were on a business trip and had happened to come upon Crazy Steve by accident. They apprehended him and were on their way to Deadwood to bring him to trial. It was on then that they met Bullock near his ranch. Bullock was initially wary of the group as they had looked quite disheveled. However, he and Roosevelt quickly became close friends.When he was president, Roosevelt offered Bullock a number of positions, even Governor of Alaska, but Bullock preferred to stay in the Black Hills. Roosevelt appointed him U.S. Marshal for South Dakota in 1905, a position Bullock held for nine years, as well as Forest Supervisor for Black Hills National Forest. Rosevelt's sudden death in January 1919 was a tremendous shock to Bullock. That same month, Bullock and a few others from Deadwood created the Roosevelt Permanent Memorial National Committee (which was later changed to Roosevelt Memorial Association). In the coming months, a site was chosen and the tower was designed and construction began. Workers completed by early July and a dedication ceremony was held on the 4th.

Located just 2.5 miles from Deadwood, Mount Theodore Roosevelt Monument is a historic stone tower serving as a monument to President Theodore Roosevelt (1858-1919). Roosevelt's long-time friend, Deadwood resident, and famous Western American figure Seth Bullock led the effort to build the tower, which was erected just six months after Roosevelt's death in January 1919. The tower, which stands 31 feet high, was the first memorial for Roosevelt built in the country. The site also features a picnic table and interpretive sign. Visitors can climb to the top of the tower, which was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 2005.

Mount Theodore Roosevelt Monument

Costner established Tatanka Story of the Bison after he filmed Dances With Wolves, which was released in 1990. His original intention was to build a hotel resort that would feature the sculpture on its grounds (he commissioned Detmers to create it before a solid plan for the hotel was established). The hotel fell through but Costner went ahead with commission and building the interpretive center. The sculpture depicts three Native Americans on horseback hunting fourteen bison, some of which appear tumbling over a cliff. Due issues with funding, it took Detmers seven years to complete the sculpture when it was scheduled to take 3.5 years.

Located just north of Deadwood, Tatanka Story of the Bison is a small tourist attraction dedicated to the Bison, which in the Lakota language is "tatanka." It was established by actor Kevin Costner, who starred in and directed the film "Dances With Wolves." The site features the Northern Plains Peoples Educational Interpretive Center, costumes from the film, tipis, and a large bronze sculpture called "Lakota Bison Jump" created by local artist Peggy Detmers. Lakota Indians also give regular presentations.

Tatanka Story of the Bison

AgricultureIn 1862, Congress passed the <a href="https://www.archives.gov/education/lessons/homestead-act" target="_blank">Homestead Act</a>, which granted 160 acres of public or government-owned land for free to any U.S. citizen who wanted to farm. However, not all areas were suitable for farming, including the Centennial Valley. As such, the ranch is significant in that it reflects one of the weaknesses of the Homestead Act, which failed to account for land that could not be farmed. This is why the ranch consists of six homesteads (each were unable to farm successfully and were forced to sell its 160 acres) and why Henry Frawley used it for livestock grazing instead.ArchitectureThe ranch features a number of historic structures that still stand today including the Courtyard Barns, Draper Roadhouse, Centennial Valley Schoolhouse, Woolsey-Burton Dugout, and the James Anderson Ranch complex. The Burton Dugout is a good example of what a typical shelter looked like when a farmer just started out as a homesteader. It was a temporary home until a larger, better one could be built.EducationBuilt in 1880, the Centennial Valley Schoolhouse educated local children until 1936. After that, it became a polling station and a place where scripture services were held. The schoolhouse still retains its original Blackboard, desks, and stove. Today, second graders from local schools come to the schoolhouse dressed up in period clothing and learn about local history.CultureWhen white explores and settlers arrived, Sioux and other Native Americans inhabited the area. The Sioux considered it a sacred land and used it as hunting grounds. Burial grounds, arrowheads, and flint artifacts have been found here. Evidence for Sioux burial scaffolds exist at the top of Elkhorn Peak.The Frawley FamilyHenry Frawley was born New York to Irish immigrants. He studied law at the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire and graduated in 1876. After practicing law in Wisconsin for a year, he moved to Deadwood, lured by the prospect of a new life in the West. He practiced law there and later became the resident attorney for the Burlington and Missouri Railroad in 1890. He married his wife, Christina Anderson, that year as well. She was the heiress to what was probably the most successful ranch (a dairy producer) in the area. In 1892, Frawley bought land to establish his own ranch. He acquired the rest of property over the next 20 years or so, becoming the largest landowner in the valley. Henry died in 1926 and his son, Henry Frawley Jr., took over operations. Henry Jr.'s son, Henry "Hank" Frawley III, then took over in 1962. After Hank passed away in 2017, his wife, Molly, decided to sell the property.

At 4,750 acres in size, the historic Frawley Ranch was one of the largest and most successful cattle ranches in western South Dakota. Now a tourist destination called Elkhorn Ridge Resort, the ranch was named after the Frawley family, who lived here for 140 years before selling it in 2017. Located in the Centennial Valley, the ranch is actually comprised of six historic homesteads that Henry Frawley, the family patriarch, gradually acquired in the late 1880s and early 1900s. The ranch is significant in the following areas: agriculture, education, architecture, and culture. It was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1974 and was declared a National Historic Landmark in 1977. Visitors can take a historic tour of the property as well as enjoy the various recreational activities the resort offers.

Frawley Historic Ranch

High Plains Heritage Center Museum offers 20,000 square feet of exhibits that preserve and display western history, culture, and art. This regional Museum traces the history of Native Americans, pioneers, and their descendents. Among the popular displays are the original stagecoach that traveled from Spearfish to the infamous Old West boomtown Deadwood.

High Plains Heritage Center Museum

The idea for the hatchery originated in 1890, when South Dakota Senator R.F. Pettigrew appropriated funds to study the possibility of opening a hatchery in Nebraska, Wyoming, Montana, or either South or North Dakota. In the end, this location was chosen because it had cold spring water (necessary for egg incubation), it was close to Spearfish, and had access to the region via the railroads. Congress appropriated funds to establish the hatchery in 1896 and it opened in 1899. Budget cuts forced the hatchery to close in 1983 but it reopened in 1989 in its current configuration with the museum and other facilities.As noted above, the Booth House was built in 1905. It is named after the first superintendent of the hatchery, Dewitt Clinton Booth, who lived here with his family. It was designed in the Neo-Colonial Revival style, featuring classical columns, large oval windows, and a bay window. The interior features period furnishings and Booth family memorabilia.The hatchery used Fish Car No. 3 (not this one specifically; it is replica) to transport fish to takes and rivers throughout the Black hills. Hatcheries needed these specially designed rail cars because refrigerated tanker trucks had not been invented yet. Railcars provided a fast way to keep the fish alive long enough to reach these lakes and rivers. Inside Fish Car No. 3, which is the only federal fisheries railcar exhibit in the U.S., visitors will learn about the role these cars played in the fish car era which spanned 66 years.In 1901, the hatchery opened a substation in Yellowstone Lake, which is located Yellowstone National Park. Hatchery workers used U.S. Fisheries Boat #39 to collect Black-sprouted trout eggs. At the time, getting to the lake was somewhat difficult as no railroads reached it. Once a year, the workers had to go on an overland expedition to get to the lake, first by railroads then by wagons. These expeditions took place between 1901-1911.

The D.C. Booth National Fish Hatchery and Archives was established in 1896 and is one of the oldest operating hatcheries in the country. Its original purpose was to breed, stock, and establish trout populations in the Black Hills region. The hatchery continues this work today. The site features the Von Bayer Museum of Fish Culture, archives, the historic 1905 Booth House, a replica of a railcar called Fish Car No. 3, a replica ice house, a restored boat called U.S. Fisheries Boat #39 used by the hatchery, the hatchery ponds, and trails. The museum, which is housed in the original hatchery building erected in 1899, collects and preserves fish hatchery objects from around the country, and also explores the history of fish culture and technology. The museum's fish management and culture collection—the largest in the U.S.—holds more than 185,000 items including equipment, periodicals, publications, and personal artifacts. The museum also offers a variety of educational programs for schools and the public. The entire hatchery site, which is ten acres in size, was added to the National Register of Historic Places 1978. The hatchery is historically significant for its role in wildlife conservation and its positive economic impact on Spearfish.

D.C. Booth National Fish Hatchery and Archives

Congregationalists (and a number of other Christian denominations) began to settle South Dakota in the 1850s and 1860s. The first known missionary to visit the territory (it became a state in 1889) was Steven Riggs, who came in 1839. Congregationalists established the first church in the territory in 1868 in Yankton. Gradually, congregationalism spread to the western part of the territory, especially after gold was found in the Black Hills in 1876. At the the time, the Black Hills was officially part of Sioux territory but miners and settlers disregarded this and the federal government either ignored or was unable to stop the encroachment. Congregationalists held their service in Belle Fourche in 1891 on the railroad station platform. That same year, First Congregationalist was organized and built a small church building the next year. In late 1941, the congregation sold this building and met temporarily in another location while it built the current building. World War II slowed construction work considerably and the church was not finished until 1949. An addition was built in 1965. The congregation has another church in St. Onge called the United Church of Christ.

Constructed in 1949, First Congregational United Church of Christ is a historic church in Belle Fourche. It is significant for being one of the best examples of Tudor Revival architecture in the state. Still a vibrant congregation today, the church was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 2013.


First Congregational United Church of Christ

The town of Belle Fourche was founded in the late 1880s, thanks in large part to famous Western historical figure Seth Bullock (who was portrayed in the HBO series Deadwood). He, and his partner Sol Star, who was mayor of Deadwood, convinced the Fremont, Elkhorn and Missouri Valley Railroad to build a depot at an old stage coach stop called DeMores, which was once part of the a ranch Bullock owned. In doing so, Bullock and Star outmaneuvered the nearby town of Minnesela, which had been asking the railroad to go there and, ultimately, lost its position as the county seat; it is now a ghost town. As a result, Bullock was able to get "his" town in the end and it eventually became the county seat. Bullock named the town Belle Fourche, a French name which means "beautiful fork," because it's located forks of the Haycreek, Redwater River, and Belle Fourche River. Apparently, Bullock offered free plots to businesses to attract them to the new town. Belle Fourche quickly became an important livestock (primarily cattle and sheep) transportation center as it is still today. Mining also became an important industry and today bentonite mining is a key part of the economy.

The Butte County Courthouse and Historic Jail Building, which are located next to each other in the same block, are significant in both architecture and in the role they played in the history of the county. The courthouse was built in 1912 and is a good example of Neo-Classical architecture (it also features elements of Beaux-Arts style). Interesting elements include a large portico with four columns and a domed octagonal cupola. The jail building was built before the courthouse in 1902. The two-story building was constructed with, it is believed, locally sourced sandstone and designed in the Romanesque Revival style. An interesting feature of the jail is the white miniature knight above the entrance (it is not known if it was original to the building). Both buildings are listed, together, on the National Register of Historic Places. 

Butte County Courthouse and Historic Jail Building

The museum was established in 1955. The idea for it originated with the wife of man named Roy Williams, who had recently passed away in Hammond, Montana. At the time of his death, Williams had a western collection that was worth $1,000. Realizing the value of the collection, Mrs. Williams approached Belle Fourche businessmen and city and officials. As a result, they agreed to establish the museum. It was originally going to be located in a historic home but that was impractical so the city built a simple one-story building, which was expanded in 1964 and 1972. The museum's current building was erected in 2004. The cabin is named after hunter, guide, and scout Jonny Spaulding, who arrived in Belle Fourche in 1876 at the onset of the state's gold rush. Later, he served in the in the Philippines during the Spanish-American War and eventually moved to California. Residents lived in the cabin until the late 1930s. Its last owner donated it to the museum in 1960. It was moved to its current location in 2007. Inside, visitors will see period items including furniture and items used in daily life.

This building houses the Tri-State Museum and the Center of the Nation Visitor Center. The museum explores the history of the surrounding region, which includes western South Dakota, eastern Wyoming, and southeastern Montana. The museum, which is owned and operated by the city of Belle Fourche, features exhibits that focus on a variety of topics including pioneer life, the Old West, rodeos, the growth and development of the city, and local military history. Visitors will see numerous items and artifacts that reflect these topics such as photographs, pioneer-era clothing, military uniforms and memorabilia. Additionally, the museum grounds feature two landmarks: the historic 1876 Spaulding cabin and the Geographic Center of the Nation Monument. Belle Fourche lies in the area where the center of the country is located (within the margin of error). The monument is made of polished granite in the shape of a compass and is surrounded by the flags of all 50 states and the national flags of the U.S. and Canada.

Tri-State Museum & Center of the Nation Visitor Center

In 1959 following the admission of Alaska and Hawaii to the Union, the U.S. Coast and Geodetic survey officially designated a point 20 miles north of Belle Fourche, South Dakota as the Geographic Center of the Nation.

Entry of Alaska and Hawaii as states moved the site from its old position in Smith Center Kansas to Butte County, South Dakota.

The U.S. Coast and Geodetic survey announced that the location of the new center is at Latitude 44 degrees, 58 minutes North, and Longitude 103 degrees, 46 minutes West.

Sturgis, Deadwood, Spearfish and Bell Fourche Driving Tour

Black Hills Mining Museum

Introduction

Images

Backstory and Context

Sources

Additional Information