Photos by Donna

Scenic drives, wildlife, mountain carvings…..and there’s so much more.  You cannot be bored in and around the Black Hills.  Here’s some quick peeks at just a few of my photos of fun and cool stuff also right in the middle of it all!

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With the first finds of gold in the town of Lead occurring in the mid-1870’s, the Black Hills gold rush began and created what became the Homestake Mine.  Lead has been called the richest 100 square miles on Earth.  Over a period of 126 years, miners pulled more than 41 million ounces of gold and 9 million ounces of silver from the Homestake Mine.

When it closed in 2003, it was the largest mine in the western hemisphere, with more than 370 miles of tunnels from the surface to the 8,000-foot bottom level.  Today, the Homestake Mine is used by the National Science Foundation’s Deep Underground Science and Engineering Laboratory (DUSEL).

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Homestake Mine

Typical yield from one ton of “low grade” ore was less than half an ounce of gold.

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Homestake Mine

More than 370 miles of tunnels from the surface to the 8,000-foot level

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As soon as the gold rush began, three miles down the mountain the town of Deadwood was quickly established.

Deadwood became famous with gunslingers, gambling, and brothels.  It was here Wild Bill Hickok was shot and killed while playing poker at Saloon No. 10 (he was holding two pair of black aces and black eights, today called the ‘dead man’s hand’).

Today Deadwood is a National Historical Landmark, with daily reenactments of gunfights and Hickok’s murder, and the trial of his murderer, McCall.  Lots of historical stuff to see here, it was a cool town to experience.

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Historical Main Street Deadwood

Popular with bikers after a cruise through the Black Hills

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Another nearby famous town very popular with bikers after cruising the Black Hills is Sturgis.

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Famous Sturgis sign

Harleys for sale, they were pretty. No, I did not buy one. But I’ll possibly shock you in knowing that I used to have my own Harley back in the day, it was purple! 😉

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About 25 miles north of the Black Hills in Belle Fourche is the Geographic Center of the United States.  I felt well-balanced when I stood on the center of the medallion.  🙂

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Geographic Center of the U.S.

Geographic Center of the U.S.

Geographic Center of the U.S.

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Something else fun to see, the world’s largest Smokey the Bear at 30 feet tall.  He was recently carved and erected in Hill City this past May.  It took 10 days to create him.

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World’s Largest Smokey the Bear

World’s Largest Smokey the Bear

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Sometimes you come to a surprise at the end of a long paved road, before heading into the hills on dirt roads, in the middle of nowhere.  We ended by chance at such a spot called Moonshine Gulch Saloon and had lunch.  Two tasty burgers and four beers for $20.  Can’t beat that!  Even the owner’s dog greets you as you walk through the door.

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Moonshine Gulch Saloon, est. 1910

The saloon’s ceiling

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Throughout the scenic drives, there are seven single-lane tunnels through rock formations that were cool and very tight to drive through.  Here are three of them.

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Doane Robinson Tunnel (12′ W & 11’4″ H) – you can see Mt Rushmore framed while driving through it

Scenic byway tunnel (I missed recording name of this one)

Needles Eye Tunnel (8’9″ W x 9’8″ H) – this fella was having a good time directing traffic.

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Also cool on the scenic drives are three “pigtail bridges” (a particular form of spiral bridge) built as a solution to negotiate sudden elevation drops on the planning of the Iron Mountain Road scenic byway.

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Pigtail bridge, Black Hills

Pigtail bridge, Black Hills

Postcard illustration

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Scenic drives, wildlife, gold mining, wild west history, and fun stuff.  And there’s even more!  I promise, you cannot get bored in the Black Hills.

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