Near Custer in Custer County, South Dakota — The American Midwest (Upper Plains)
“The Badger Hole”
¼ mile
Photographed by Connor Olson, August 8, 2022
1. “The Badger Hole Marker
Inscription.
“The Badger Hole”. ¼ mile. Home of Charles Badger Clark (1883-1957) Poet-Laureate Author, Lecturer and one of South Dakota's best known and beloved citizens. For approximately thirty years Badger lived alone and wrote in the cabin built with his own hands. Thousands of friends, particularly school children, beat a path to "The Badger Hole" to meet and visit with this friendly and understanding man. His poems reflect his love for the West, especially for the majesty and beauty of the Black Hills. "Sun and Saddle Leather" and "Sky Lines and Wood Smoke" are his best-known volumes. "The Cowboy's Prayer,” used in many school books and reprinted often in magazines, probably is his most popular poem. "The Cowboy's Lullaby” was set to music and used in motion pictures. He rated "The Job” his best. Our Badger is gone but his works and good deeds live on.
Home of Charles Badger Clark (1883-1957)
Poet-Laureate
Author,
Lecturer and one of
South
Dakota's best known and beloved citizens.
For
approximately
thirty
years Badger
lived
alone
and wrote in
the cabin built with his own hands.
Thousands of friends,
particularly school children,
beat a path to
"The Badger Hole"
to meet and
visit
with
this
friendly
and understanding man.
His
poems
reflect
his
love for
the
West,
especially
for the
majesty
and
beauty of
the Black
Hills.
"Sun and Saddle
Leather"
and
"Sky
Lines and
Wood
Smoke"
are
his
best-known volumes.
"The Cowboy's Prayer,”
used in many school books
and reprinted often
in magazines,
probably is his
most popular
poem.
"The
Cowboy's Lullaby”
was
set to
music
and used
in
motion
pictures.
He rated
"The Job”
his best.
Our Badger
is
gone but his works
and
good deeds live
on.
Erected 1958 by Millard C. Scott, his friend, and the State Highway Commission. (Marker Number 236.)
Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Arts, Letters, Music. In addition, it is included
Location. 43° 45.363′ N, 103° 27.295′ W. Marker is near Custer, South Dakota, in Custer County. It is at the intersection of Badger Clark Road and Badger Hole, on the right when traveling south on Badger Clark Road. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 25151 Badger Clark Road, 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.
Credits. This page was last revised on May 10, 2023. It was originally submitted on August 8, 2022, by Connor Olson of Menomonee Falls, Wisconsin. This page has been viewed 593 times since then and 41 times this year. Photos:1, 2. submitted on August 8, 2022, by Connor Olson of Menomonee Falls, Wisconsin. • Bill Pfingsten was the editor who published this page.
