Home to the tallest peaks east of the Rocky Mountains, the Black
Hills lie in the western region of South Dakota. Blessed with
towering summits, sprawling forests, and meandering rivers, the
Black Hills are a pristine haven for sightseeing, fishing, hiking,
camping, and rock climbing.
Native American peoples have inhabited the area since 7,000 BC,
making the Black Hills a site of spiritual and historical
significance. Ownership has passed through many hands, resting
today with the Lakota. There is a history of conflict, with it
experiencing bloodshed and massacre during the Great Sioux War of
1876.
The diverse geology of the Back Hills attracts visitors each
year, as well as its abundance of indigenous flora and fauna.
Erosion has formed a terrain of desolate beauty in Badlands
National Park, with sharp buttes, twisting spires, deep gorges, and
one of the richest fossil beds on the planet.
Jewel Cave is the third longest cave in the world, with visitors
exploring miles of underground passageways and stunning rock
formations. Scenic drives through Custer State Park provide amazing
encounters with the once-endangered bison that now flourish in
free-roaming herds.
Black Hills is also the setting for the popular HBO series
, although it was filmed in California. The City
Fathers of Deadwood have created a false wooden street front based
on the original town and similar to the one on the television
series.
Mount Rushmore is one of the most iconic attractions in South
Dakota, and indeed the country. Carved into Thunderhead Monument,
the Crazy Horse Memorial has been in construction since 1948 and
would potentially be the largest sculpture in the world on
completion.