Near Keystone in Pennington County, South Dakota — The American Midwest (Upper Plains)
Ancient Stone Circles
| | Mount Rushmore National Memorial | |
Photographed by Mark Parker, June 30, 2025
1. Ancient Stone Circles Marker
Ancient stone circles can be found across the landscapes of North America. Often the "spokes" are aligned with the cardinal directions, significant locations, or constellations. These structures act as astronomical clocks, denoting significant times of the year such as the location of the sunrise during the summer and winter solstices.
By understanding these landmarks, we can learn much about significant events, places, and values developed by communities over millennia of celestial observation.
Caption
The sculpture before you is inspired by the Bighorn Medicine Wheel located in the Bighorn Mountains of Wyoming.
Erected by National Park Service, US Department of the Interior.
Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Indigenous Peoples and Communities • Parks & Recreational Areas.
Location. 43° 52.545′ N, 103° 27.227′ W. Marker is near Keystone, South Dakota, in Pennington County. It can be reached from South Dakota 244 1.6 miles west of U.S. 16A. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 13000 SD 244, Keystone SD 57751,
this page online
Regionally, this marker is in South Dakota’s West River, in the Badlands, 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 Ruperts Land and also the Louisiana Purchase.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: Celestial and Earthly Locations (here, next to this marker); Traditional Ecological Knowledge (here, next to this marker); "We Are Still Here" (here, next to this marker); Significant Black Hills Native American Sites (here, next to this marker); Rushmore Workers (about 500 feet away, measured in a direct line); History of the United States of America (approx. 0.2 miles away); (Mount Rushmore) Chronology (approx. 0.2 miles away); The Power to Carve a Mountain (approx. 0.2 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Keystone.
More about this marker. The marker
Photographed by Mark Parker, June 30, 2025
2. Ancient Stone Circles Marker in front of the replica stone circle
Photographed by Mark Parker, June 30, 2025
3. Ancient Stone Circles Marker and other markers near Mt Rushmore Park entrance
Photographed by Mark Parker, June 30, 2025
4. Replica Stone Circle
Credits. This page was last revised on July 5, 2025. It was originally submitted on July 2, 2025, by Mark Parker of Hickory, North Carolina. This page has been viewed 156 times since then and 47 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4. submitted on July 2, 2025, by Mark Parker of Hickory, North Carolina. • J. Makali Bruton was the editor who published this page.
