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Black Hills

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Named by the Lakota Sioux for the dark appearance that the thick covering of Ponderosa pine gave to the slopes, the Black Hills represent an ancient, mountain range/region covering 5000 square miles of southwestern South Dakota and eastern Wyoming. This oval patch of mountains was sacred to the Lakota people.

The region was settled by Europeans in the 1870s, when the discovery of gold started a mining boom. The Homestake Gold Mine is still one of the world's largest gold-producing mines. Historic mines and camps dot the landscape; other points of interest include Mount Rushmore and the Crazy Horse Memorial.

The Black Hills Visitor Information Center, off I-90 at Exit 61, offers picnic and pet exercise areas, exhibits, maps and brochures.

Location: 1851 Discovery Circle, Rapid City South Dakota 57701 Telephone 605-355-3600

(Rapid City) Affordable Adventures
(Deadwood) Alkali Ike Tours
(Keystone) Beautiful Rushmore Cave
(Black Hawk) Bethlehem Cave and Lodge
(Rapid City) Black Hills
(Deadwood) Black Hills Brewing Company

03/28 Coming to The Rapid City area
Rawhide Pageant & Sr. Pro Rodeo Lusk WY July12-13 The Legend of Rawhide is an annual celebration of the history, legend, and Western heritage of Niobrara County.
Sturgis Motorcycle Rally Sturgis SD August5-11 Since 1938, Sturgis has welcomed motorcycle enthusiasts from across the United States and around the world to the annual Motorcycle Rally. Based out of this small community in the northern Black Hills, the Rally officially runs for seven days every August.