Lead in Lawrence County, South Dakota — The American Midwest (Upper Plains)
Homestake Mining Company
Photographed by Cosmos Mariner, July 12, 2018
1. Homestake Hospital Site Marker
Medical services at the Homestake Mining Company, one of the pioneers in the United States in the field of industrial health services, first began in 1877, when the company contracted with Dr. D. K. Dickinson to furnish medical and surgical services. Employees originally paid into a hospital fund, but in 1910 all charges were dropped and employees and their immediate families became eligible for free care.
In 1879 the company established its first company hospital in a four-room hewed log cabin on Main Street between Wall and Gold. This log cabin was used until 1886, when it was replaced by a two-story frame structure which had been built at the location seen here. This second hospital was then replaced in 1923 by a modern brick building. The old frame structure was never actually destroyed; the new one was built around it, and the old building served as part of the core.
The company's brick hospital was eventually razed in 1985, having been replaced by the Black Hills Medical Center, which had been built by Homestake in Deadwood. The site of the old hospital in Lead was cleared and landscaped for use as a new city
this page online
Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Industry & Commerce • Science & Medicine. A significant historical year for this entry is 1877.
Location. 44° 21.125′ N, 103° 45.968′ W. Marker is in Lead, South Dakota, in Lawrence County. It is at the intersection of West Main Street (CanAm Highway) (U.S. 85) and Siever Street, on the left when traveling east on West Main Street (CanAm Highway). Marker is located beside the sidewalk, overlooking the west end of City Park on the north side of Main Street. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Lead SD 57754, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Regionally, this marker is in West River. 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: Homestake Slag Buggy (here, next to this marker);
Photographed by Cosmos Mariner, July 12, 2018
2. Homestake Hospital Site Marker (wide view; marker near sidewalk at west end of park)
More about this marker. Marker is a large composite plaque, mounted horizontally on a waist-high post.
3. Marker detail: Homestake's second hospital building, 1886-1923
via Deadwood History, unknown
4. Matted photo of the second Homestake Hospital, which was located on Main Street in Lead.
5. Marker detail: Homestake's thrid hospital building, 1923-1985
via Rapid City Journal, unknown
6. The third Homestake Hospital on Main Street, 1950s
Credits. This page was last revised on July 25, 2025. It was originally submitted on August 11, 2018, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida. This page has been viewed 977 times since then and 46 times this year. Last updated on July 20, 2025, by Stan Hamlett of Bridgewater, New Jersey. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on August 11, 2018, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida. 4. submitted on November 8, 2021, by Larry Gertner of New York, New York. 5. submitted on August 11, 2018, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida. 6. submitted on September 3, 2021, by Larry Gertner of New York, New York. • Devry Becker Jones was the editor who published this page.
