Near Custer in Custer County, South Dakota — The American Midwest (Upper Plains)

The Hearst Highway

Dedicated to the memory of

Photographed by William J. Toman, August 8, 2010

1. The Hearst Highway Marker

With the partially completed Crazy Horse Memorial on the right.

Inscription. George Hearst (1820-1891) United States Senator, mining engineer, sportsman, speculator. Starting with nothing, he developed three of the fabled mines in the American West -- The Ophir, the Anaconda, and the Homestake -- and founded one of the great American Fortunes. His vision and organizing genius built a small mining claim into the mightiest gold mine in the world -- the Homestake -- and laid the foundations for the continuing prosperity of the Black Hills and the State of South Dakota.

and Phoebe Apperson Hearst (1842-1919) Wife, mother, true philanthropist. Her continuing interest in the welfare of the Homestake miners and their families never flagged. She gave the city of Lead its library, founded its free kindergarten, and performed numerous unpublicized charities. Due to her influence, the Homestake adopted advanced labor policies that contributed to an industrial peace unheard of in western mining. She loved and admired the people of the Black Hills and they reciprocated in full measure.

Erected 1989 by the South Dakota State Highway Commission. (Marker Number 444.)

Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Charity & Public Work • Industry & Commerce

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• Women. In addition, it is included in the South Dakota State Historical Society Markers series list.

Location. 43° 49.174′ N, 103° 38.395′ W. Marker is near Custer, South Dakota, in Custer County. It is at the intersection of Hearst Memorial Highway (U.S. 385) and Avenue of the Chiefs, on the right when traveling north on Hearst Memorial Highway. The marker is at the entrance to the Crazy Horse Memorial being carved into the Black Hills. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Custer SD 57730, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in West River

and in Greater Rapid City.

It is also in the American Black Hills,

in the Lewis & Clark Corridor,

on the prairies,

and on the Northern Plains.

Globally, it is in North America,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once Rupert’s Land

and also the Louisiana Purchase.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 5 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies: Crazy Horse Memorial (about 700 feet away, measured in a direct line); 9-11 Memorial (approx. 0.7 miles away); Death Song (approx. ¾ mile away); Scale Model of Crazy Horse (approx. 0.8 miles away); Landscapes & Logging (approx. 1.7 miles away); Everything changes, or does it? (approx. 1.9 miles away); Custer County Courthouse (approx. 4.2 miles away); Frontier Protection (approx. 4.2 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Custer.

Also see . . . Legends of America. biography of George Hearst, father of a mining and publishing empire (Submitted on August 19, 2010, by William J. Toman of Green Lake, Wisconsin.)

Photographed by William J. Toman, August 8, 2010

2. The Hearst Highway Marker

With the partially completed Crazy Horse Memorial in the background.

Credits. This page was last revised on September 4, 2021. It was originally submitted on August 19, 2010, by William J. Toman of Green Lake, Wisconsin. This page has been viewed 1,219 times since then and 18 times this year. Last updated on September 4, 2021, by Ruth VanSteenwyk of Aberdeen, South Dakota. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on August 19, 2010, by William J. Toman of Green Lake, Wisconsin. • Mark Hilton was the editor who published this page.