Near Keystone in Pennington County, South Dakota — The American Midwest (Upper Plains)
"We Are Still Here"
| | Mount Rushmore National Memorial | |
Photographed by Mark Parker, June 30, 2025
1. "We Are Still Here" Marker
The westward encroachment of settlers to the Plains radically impacted Tribal Nations as part of a series of events that would forever change their traditional lifestyles, culture, and access to homelands. Among these changes was the establishment of reservations, which restricted where Native peoples could live and practice life-sustaining activities, such as horticulture and hunting. These boundaries were determined by treaties and originally encompassed much larger areas than today. Numerous congressional acts, including the Black Hills Act of February 28, 1877, reduced this land base drastically, at times through unlawful confiscation.
Regardless of reservation boundaries, Tribal members remained spiritually and emotionally connected to the places they've long held sacred such as the Black Hills.
Arapaho Arikara Assiniboine Cheyenne Crow Dakota Hidatsal Kiowa Lakota Mandan Omaha Ponca Shoshone
Erected by National Park Service, U.S. Department of the Interior.
Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Indigenous Peoples and Communities •
this page online
Location. 43° 52.548′ N, 103° 27.225′ W. Marker is near Keystone, South Dakota, in Pennington County. It can be reached from South Dakota Route 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, United States of America. Touch for directions.
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); Ancient Stone Circles (here, next to this marker); Significant Black Hills Native American Sites (a few steps from this
Photographed by Mark Parker, June 30, 2025
2. "We Are Still Here" Marker near the entrance to Mount Rushmore National Park
More about this marker. The marker is at Mt. Rushmore National Memorial. It is located between the parking decks and the entrance to the park.
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 130 times since then and 23 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on July 2, 2025, by Mark Parker of Hickory, North Carolina. • J. Makali Bruton was the editor who published this page.
