The Harney Peak fire lookout, dam
and pumphouse were built by the
CCC in 1939 and are listed in the
National Register of Historic
Places. Harney Peak Elevation is
2207 meters (7242 ft). The peak is
the highest point east of the . . . — — Map (db m125087) HM
The B-1A was initially developed in the 1970s as a replacement for the B-52. Four prototypes of his long –range, high speed strategic bomber were developed and tested but the program was canceled in 1977 before going into production. The B-1B . . . — — Map (db m70966) HM WM
On East Main Street (U.S. 385) 0.4 miles north of Museum Drive, on the left when traveling north.
This memorial dedicated to
the young men of the
Civilian Conservation Corps
1933-1942
Made possible by a grant from
”Sarge”
Melvin B. Hermanson
2008 — — Map (db m120159) HM
On Mystic Road 1 mile north of Forest Road 242, on the right when traveling north.
Castleton Creek was named by General Custer when he and his troops traveled through its headwaters in 1874.
Gold was discovered in this valley to the west in 1875. A mining camp soon developed into the town named Castleton with a population of . . . — — Map (db m157795) HM
On U.S. 385 at Horse Creek Road, on the right when traveling south on U.S. 385.
Camp F-2 (DF-2) Horse Creek: Located 2 miles W on Horse Creek. Companies: 791--5/22/33-4/30/34 2752--7/30/34-10/21/35 2761--10/25/35-01/36 2748--01/36-5/25/36
The Civilian Conservation Corps was a federal relief program during 1933-1942 that . . . — — Map (db m34275) HM
On Main Street (U.S. 385) at Oak Street, on the right when traveling south on Main Street.
First laid out as a gold camp in February 1876 by Thomas Harvey, John Miller and Hugh McCullough, the rich strikes in the Northern Hills made it a deserted village by May 1876. Its deserted cabins had many transient occupants and the cabin that . . . — — Map (db m34250) HM
On U.S. 385 at Custer Crossing Road, on the right when traveling south on U.S. 385.
This young Ponderosa Pine forest was thinned by the Civilian Conservation Corps in 1935 to improve the growth of the remaining trees[.] The first commercial harvest was made in 1959 when the area was thinned again for posts and poles. From now on a . . . — — Map (db m37116) HM
Near Deerfield Road 3.2 miles north of Main Street (U.S. 385), on the right when traveling north.
This F-9 Hill City Civilian Conservation Corps CCC) Camp was established in March 1933. Congress began the program to address severe unemployment and poverty during the Great Depression and later terminated it in 1942, during World War II. The CCC . . . — — Map (db m155899) HM
Near Deerfield Road 0.6 miles north of Main Street (U.S. 385), on the right when traveling north.
The George S. Mickelson trail follows a raised railroad right-of-way that is the abandoned Chicago, Burlington, and Quincy Railroad (CB&Q). In 1849, construction of the CB&Q began in Aurora, Illinois and by 1864, the CB&Q spanned the 400 miles . . . — — Map (db m155900) HM
On U.S. 385 0.3 miles north of Calumet Road, on the left when traveling south.
Sheridan, located 1/2 mile NE, now 30 feet under water, was named for General Philip Sheridan and founded in 1875 on Cheyenne-Deadwood Trail, as Golden, in the belief that fabulous placer gold existed here. Still Indian Country and everybody a . . . — — Map (db m34276) HM
The Black Hills Central Railroad has been placed on the National Register of Historic Places by the United States Department of the Interior 1893 — — Map (db m70976) HM
On Main Street (U.S. 16/385) at McGregor Street, on the right when traveling south on Main Street.
This building is listed on the National Register as the oldest commercial hand-hewn log building in continuous use in South Dakota.
Built in 1885 by the German immigrant Camillo Von Woehrman as a saloon and sleeping quarters; in 1890 he began . . . — — Map (db m119999) HM
Journey to Wounded Knee-December 24, 1890 a bitter Christmas Eve wind rattled the wagon in which Minneconjou Chief Big Foot lay waiting while his people cleared a pass down the Badlands Wall. Several hours of hard work with axes and spades made the . . . — — Map (db m62104) HM
On U.S. 385 0.1 miles north of Custer Gulch Road, on the right when traveling south.
Camp F-4: Pactola Campsite inundated by Lake Pactola. Companies: 1789--6/8/33-10/35 2748--5/25/36-1940
The Civilian Conservation Corps was a federal relief program during 1933-1942 that gave jobless men work renovating abused lands. The Army . . . — — Map (db m34249) HM
On U.S. 385 0.1 miles south of Pactola Basin Road, on the right when traveling south.
Construction of Pactola Dam began in 1952 and was completed in 1956. At times nearly 200 men worked on the dam. Unskilled workers earned $1.25 an hour and skilled workers $2.75 an hour. The men placed 2,163,251 cubic yards of impervious earthfill . . . — — Map (db m37064) HM
On U.S. 385 0.1 miles from Pactola Basin Road, on the right when traveling south.
By the mid-20th century, water in the West did more than irrigate 160 acre patches of alfalfa. Water flowed as the life blood of cities, private industries, and military bases. Droughts during the 1930s illustrated that Rapid City could not depend . . . — — Map (db m37070) HM
1923 Colossal sculpture in the Black Hills first suggested by Doane Robinson.
1924 Gutzon Borglum's first visit to the Black Hills.
1927 Address by President Calvin Coolidge at Mount Rushmore and first actual drilling.
1929 Senator . . . — — Map (db m89492) HM
Born: February 12, 1809, in a log cabin in Harden (now Larue) County, Kentucky
Married: Mary Todd (1818-1882), November 4, 1842
Children: Robert Todd, Edward Baker, William Wallace, and Thomas "Tad"
Died: April 15, 1865, Washington, D.C., . . . — — Map (db m89398) HM
The Galena Fire consumed 16,788 acres, mostly within the borders of Custer State Park. More than $2.1 million was spent fighting the fire, and about $4.4 million worth of timber burned. None of Custer State Park's buildings were damaged, no people . . . — — Map (db m45351) HM
Born: February 22, 1732, Westmoreland County, Virginia
Married: Martha Danbridge Curtis, (1732-1802), January 6, 1759
Children: John and Martha Curtis (adopted)
Died: December 14, 1799, at Mount Vernon, Virginia
Education: No formal . . . — — Map (db m89399) HM
On Scenic State Highway 16A, on the left when traveling south.
His birthplace was Idaho. California first taught him art. Then France, who first gave him fame. England welcomed him. America called him home. His genius for the exquisite as for the colossal, gave permanence on canvas, in bronze, in marble, to . . . — — Map (db m49105) HM
On State Highway 244 1.1 miles west of Iron Mountain Road (Alternate U.S. 16), on the right when traveling west.
His birthplace was Idaho. California first taught him art. Then France, who first gave him fame. England welcomed him. America called him home. His genius for the exquisite as for the colossal gave permanence on canvas, in bronze, in marble, to . . . — — Map (db m134568) HM
Almighty God, from this pulpit of stone the American people render thanksgiving and praise for the new era of civilization brought forth upon this continent. Centuries of tyrannical oppression sent to these shores, God-fearing men to seek in freedom . . . — — Map (db m89493) HM
Norbeck Wildlife Preserve
Created by Act of Congress, 1949
Peter Norbeck 1870 – 1936
Well driller, Statesman, first native Governor of South Dakota, U.S. Senator, founder of Custer State Park, sponsor of Mount Rushmore . . . — — Map (db m4395) HM
Doane Robinson (1856-1946) was the South Dakota state historian from 1901 to 1926. Speaking to the Black and Yellow Trail Association in January 1924, Robinson proposed his idea to carve legendary figures of the American West into the Black Hills . . . — — Map (db m103866) HM
Contributing Factors For several months prior to the Galena Fire, weather conditions were unusually hot and dry. Average annual precipitation for this region is 18 inches. In the 12 months before the fire only 11 inches fell in the Park.The . . . — — Map (db m45350) HM
Over 450,000 tons of rock were removed from Mount Rushmore to bring out the four presidential faces. Although about 90% of the rock was removed with dynamite, the remaining rock was removed by drilling with jackhammers and wedging the rock off the . . . — — Map (db m89491) HM
Born: October 27, 1858, New York, New York
Married: Alice Hathaway Lee (1861-1884), October 27, 1880; Edith Kermit Carow (1861-1848), December 2, 1886
Children: Alice, Theodore, Jr., Kermit, Ethel, Archibald, Quentin
Died: January 6, . . . — — Map (db m89459) HM
It would seem that a large forest fire would destroy an area for wildlife. However, the Galena Fire has improved much of the Park's wildlife habitat. The fire created many open meadows where grasses and shrubs are now growing. The mixture of meadow . . . — — Map (db m45352) HM
Near CS-23A (at milepost 127), 0.6 miles north of Interstate 90.
(for) people who are on alert at the launch missile control centers it's very much an invisible thankless job. nobody sees what they do, nobody cares about it. I see them as almost invisible warriors, the security police that are there, the . . . — — Map (db m113088) HM
For 49 years, Berlin, former capital of Adolf Hitler's Nazi Germany, was occupied by the victorious allies of World War II--the United States, Great Britain, France and the Soviet Union. For much of that time an ugly wall divided the city . . . — — Map (db m136630) WM
Berlin Wall Segment A.
This Berlin Wall Segment, located between the Brandenburg Gate and Checkpoint Charlie from 1961 - 1989, is donated in gratitude to all Military Chaplains, who in time of war and peace, faithfully served God and . . . — — Map (db m136418) WM
Panel A.
On November 9, 1989, to stem the flow of refugees, desperate Communist leaders announced amid chaos that they would issue passports to all East Germans, allowing them to come and go as they pleased. That evening hundreds of . . . — — Map (db m136631) HM
Because of the Four-Power Agreements, the Allies had insisted upon free access to Berlin at any time. In 1958, Premier Nikita S. Khrushchev of the Soviet Union demanded that the Allies leave West Berlin and Berlin be made a "demilitarized free . . . — — Map (db m136629) HM
Early on August 13, 1961, the East German Army, with Soviet support, began constructing a barrier of barbed wire, cinder blocks and mortar between East and West Berlin. The barrier was intended to stop the exodus of citizens fleeing from . . . — — Map (db m136408) WM
On Nemo Rd 1.2 miles west of Bittersweet Rd, on the right when traveling west.
A one time member of Buffalo Bill Cody's Wild West Show, Madison came to Dakota Territory in 1886 and the history of South Dakota Rodeo began. Russ won the Champion Relay Race in Sioux City, Iowa, in 1907 and then began building his bucking horse . . . — — Map (db m113149) HM
Tank Trap A.
This tank trap, located between the Brandenburg Gate and Checkpoint Charlie from 1961 - 1989, is donated in honor of the citizens of Potsdam, Germany (the sister city of Sioux Falls, South Dakota), where religious freedom was . . . — — Map (db m136417) WM
The United States never wavered in its commitment to freedom and democracy in Berlin, a city isolated 100 miles inside Easts Germany. In 1948, to assert its influence over Germany, the Soviet Union blockaded land access to Berlin. The Western . . . — — Map (db m136414) WM
Given to Rapid City by Generous Citizens Mindful of the Price of Freedom
COMMITTEE
Gale Holbrook
Ra Vae Luckhart
Jim Kuehn
Phil Nichols
Carolyn Mollers
Paul Reinke, DDS
Col. Josiah Wallace
Dale Clement, PhD . . . — — Map (db m136399) WM
Sometimes East German border guards themselves took advantage of lapses of attention to escape the watch of their colleagues, as Conrad Schumann did by leaping over the barbed wire and fleeing to the West. Most often, however, people attempting . . . — — Map (db m136412) WM
On North 3rd Street north of Philadelphia Street, on the right when traveling north.
Original Construction
The Madison cabin was built in 1876 with logs from the abundant groves of cottonwoods along Rapid Creek. After the trees were felled and trimmed, the logs were squared on the ground (typically with a broadaxe) . . . — — Map (db m154847) HM
Near North 3rd Street north of Philadephia Street, on the right when traveling north.
This cabin, dating to Rapid City's is founding in early 1876, is the oldest known structure in the city and one of the oldest standing structures in the Black Hills. Rufus "Pap" Madison built it at the corner of Fifth and Rapid Street, the center of . . . — — Map (db m154909) HM
Here, in America's Heartland between Mount Rushmore national Memorial and Ellsworth Air Force Base, remnants of the Berlin Wall are a vivid remainder that vigilance must never give way to complacency where freedom is concerned.
The . . . — — Map (db m136400) HM
This loop trail rises 300 feet to a dramatic view of the White River Valley. From this elevation you can also see the flat-topped Eagle Butte, 25 miles (40 km) to the south. Humans have used the Cliff Shelf for more than 11,000 years. More than 50 . . . — — Map (db m45290) HM
Near Badlands Loop Road (State Highway 240) 0.4 miles east of Sage Creek Rim Road, on the right when traveling east.
Thirty-seven million years ago, the ancient crystalline core of the Black Hills had already been exposed by erosion. The long blue profile of those mountains, visible to the west, looked much as it does now.
About that time, streams flowing . . . — — Map (db m4404) HM
On 195th Avenue 0.4 miles south of Dillon Pass Road, on the right when traveling south.
The fence in front of you once guarded the Delta-09 Launch Facility which held a Minuteman II intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM). During the Cold War, anyone or anything that crossed this fence was in serious trouble. Standing orders meant . . . — — Map (db m66953) HM
On Badlands Loop Road (State Highway 240) 0.3 miles east of Conata Road (Road 509), on the right when traveling east.
A jungle grew here. Before that, a shallow sea covered the land. Both are gone now, but both left evidence of their passing.
The sea's signature is ammonites, baculites, and clams, pearly fossils entombed in a fossil mud called the Pierre . . . — — Map (db m4399) HM
South Dakota's rich western heritage has been remembered along the Interstate highway system at safety rest areas and tourist information centers.
The eight pillars which thrust skyward here merge in the framework of a tipi, the Plains . . . — — Map (db m124102) HM
On May 24, 2012, the South Dakota DOT's Transportation Commission officially declared Interstate 90 from the Minnesota border to the Wyoming border as South Dakota's segment of the National Purple Heart Trail. The Purple Heart Trail was . . . — — Map (db m124101) HM
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