The main purpose of this book is to give a chronological or itinerary account of what may be seen in the Black Hills. It should acquaint the tourist with the things of interest to see on his trip. It should save him the chagrin of passing a point of interest without having known he did so. It should, further, give him a souvenir of the scenes and experiences of the trip. But one of the central purposes of this treatise is to give the school children and the grown-ups of South Dakota a picture of their own Black Hills and Bad Lands.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Chapter Page [I Introduction] 9 [II State Capitol] 13 [III The Badlands] 21 [IV Rapid City] 35 [V Cement Plant] 40 [VI Crystal Cave] 43 [VII Sturgis] 48 [VIII Belle Fourche] 52 [IX Spearfish] 60 [X Pine Crest Camp] 69 [XI Lead] 71 [XII Deadwood] 83 [XIII Pactola, Silver City, and Camp Wanzer] 90 [XIV Hill City and Keystone] 93 [XV Needles Road, Sylvan Lake Harney Peak and the Gorge] 101 [XVI Custer] 125 [XVII Hot Springs] 145 Appendix Page [I Mountains] 161 [II Elevations] 163 [III Industries] 165 [IV Fishing] 167 [V Streams] 169 [VI Camps and Camping] 171 [VII New Developments] 179 [VIII Shorter Routes] 183
Harney Peak above the clouds. This is the highest point in the United States east of the Rocky Mountains.Photo by Beard
CHAPTER I
Introduction
“The Wonderland of America” is not an overstatement of the scenic beauty of the Black Hills of South Dakota. One cannot but marvel at the endless new experiences that he has each day, whether it be on a three days’ or a three weeks’ trip through the Black Hills. In the shorter trip he will take in the more prominent points, scarcely departing from the main arterial highways. On the longer tour he will drive a thousand to fifteen hundred miles through deep canyons, up to the mines, and to many other places which at first would seem almost impenetrable but which upon inquiry will be found readily accessible. The more extensive trip should be the one selected if at all possible, for it leaves an impression on a person’s mind that cannot be erased by time or by any amount of traveling in any part of the world.
Birdseye view of Sylvan Lake
Rise Photo