Keystone in Pennington County, South Dakota — The American Midwest (Upper Plains)

First School

Built c. 1895

Photographed by William Fischer, Jr., September 17, 2026

1. First School Marker

Inscription.

has been recognized as a
historic building by the
Keystone Area Historical Society
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This is the original hand-hewn schoolhouse built in the early 1890s which "housed forty students in eight grades, one teacher and few books." Miss Mary Wheelock of Harney was the first teacher in Keystone. The classroom supplies consisted of one globe, one map and a very small blackboard.

[Photo captions, left to right, read]
• James Halley IV (Junior) lived next door to the log school at the original location.

Originally the log school was located behind the house at 313 2nd Street. It was moved to this location in October 2003, being Keystone's first attempt at "higher education."

Erected 2005 by Keystone Area Historical Society. (Marker Number 17.)

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Architecture • Education • Settlements & Settlers. A significant historical month for this entry is October 2003.

Location. 43° 53.749′ N, 103° 25.228′ W. Marker is in Keystone, South Dakota, in Pennington County. It is on 3rd Street north of Blair Street, on the right when traveling north. Touch for map.

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Marker is at or near this postal address: 410 3rd Street, Keystone SD 57751, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in 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 Rupert’s Land

and also the Louisiana Purchase.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: Keystone School (within shouting distance of this marker); 40th Anniversary of "The Flood" (within shouting distance of this marker); Historic Keystone in the early 1940s (within shouting distance of this marker); U.S. 4th Cavalry Bivouac (within shouting distance of this marker); Halley's Store Icehouse (about 300 feet away, measured in a direct line); Keystone Battle Creek Cultural Center (about 400 feet away); Keystone Trading Company/Halley's Store (about 400 feet away); US Forest Service Icehouse (about 400 feet

Photographed by William Fischer, Jr., September 17, 2026

2. First School Marker

away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Keystone.

Also see . . . Keystone Walking Tour. (Submitted on September 30, 2026, by William Fischer, Jr. of Reynoldsburg, Ohio.)

First School and Markers image. Click for full size.

Photographed by William Fischer, Jr., September 21, 2026

3. First School and Markers

Credits. This page was last revised on September 30, 2026. It was originally submitted on September 30, 2026, by William Fischer, Jr. of Reynoldsburg, Ohio. This page has been viewed 8 times since then. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on September 30, 2026, by William Fischer, Jr. of Reynoldsburg, Ohio.