South Dakota Vacation Guide 2011 - (Page 158)
black hills, badlands & lakes region
tory shows its compelling
face from the moment you
drive steep and winding
Hwy. 14A through its tilted
downtown district. This
is a mining town with the
architecture and landmarks
to prove it. Its glory
days are refl ected by such
historic institutions as the
Homestake Opera House
and the Homestake Mansion,
as well as by the immense
hole that is the Open
Cut and the iconic Yates
Shaft reaching for the sky
from the town’s pinnacle.
The town’s environs,
with elegant Victorian
mansions, quaint little
miners’ homes and oldfashioned
storefronts, create
a historic hodgepodge
of nooks and crannies to
venture into, including gift
shops, art galleries and
museums detailing Lead’s
unique heritage.
adventures in Lead
M
Gold Country
ore than most
towns, Lead’s his-
Founded during the
great gold rush of 1876 and
sustained for 130 years by
one of the richest gold veins
ever unearthed, Lead is
building its future in the
very same deep underground
tunnels and caverns
that sustained it until the
closing of the Homestake
Gold Mine in 2002. The
Homestake, actively managed
by the Hearst family
for much of its history, was
recognized as the oldest,
largest and deepest mine in
the Western hemisphere,
reaching more than 8,000
feet below the town.
Those deep mining
shafts were the primary
reason that Lead, in 2007,
was selected by the National
Science Foundation
as the location for the Deep
Underground Science and
Engineering Laboratory.
Hotels, B&Bs, restaurants,
specialty shops,
private attractions, parks
The
Along with its historic gold rush allure, Lead has three in-town trailheads
that take visitors on to the Mickelson Trail.
and museums allow visitors
to savor the historical
treasures of the area, while
hopes for its science-based
future have enlivened the
town’s atmosphere.
Black Hills Mining Museum’s
trained guides take
you on a simulated tour
of one of Homestake Gold
Mine’s underground mining
levels. A wide range of
exhibits provide a closer
look at the area’s mining
heritage.
A stop at the free
Homestake Visitor Center
at 160 Main Street includes
displays of mining artifacts,
plus plunging a few
steps from the door is the
gigantic Open Cut where
gold was fi rst discovered
and where it was last
mined. There’s a mining
video and a gift shop, too.
Homestake Opera
House, built in 1914 and
nearly destroyed by fi re in
1984, is currently undergoing
extensive renovation.
Performances are staged
year-round as it continues
to raise funds for further
rebuilding projects.
Train buffs will enjoy
the recently restored
Black Hills & Fort Pierre
Railroad Roundhouse, with
a railroad interpretive center,
restaurant and “Living
Map” theater.
As intriguing as its
mining history remains, for
many it is the Lead area’s
stunning scenery and fi rstrate
recreational opportunities
that provide this
Northern Hills hamlet’s
biggest draw. Three trailheads
right in Lead will get
you started on the scenic
109-mile Mickelson Trail,
South Dakota’s premier
public corridor for hiking,
mountain biking and horseback
riding. Other outdoor
activities include golfi ng,
fl y-fi shing and deer or wild
turkey hunting. A short
drive down Hwy. 14A takes
you to Cheyenne Crossing,
the southern entrance to
Spearfi sh Canyon and its
spectacular recreational
opportunities. ■
158
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Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of South Dakota Vacation Guide 2011
South Dakota Vacation Guide 2011
Contents
Overview
Getting Here, Getting Around
Information Centers
State Facts
Tourism Regions
Places of Interest
Public Campgrounds and Recreation Areas
Vacation Ideas
Southeast Region: A slice of South Dakota charm
Glacial Lakes & Prairies Region: Stories from the frontier
Great Lakes Region: Land of the mighty Missouri
Black Hills, Badlands & Lakes Region: Enchanting mountain getaway
Black Hills map
Index
South Dakota Vacation Guide 2011
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