Discover the Black Hills: A Journey Through History and Nature
- Barry Branaugh
- Aug 19
- 2 min read
This summer my wife Julie and I took a road trip from Oregon to South Dakota and back. Our destination was the Black Hills. This is the southwest portion of South Dakota (and spills into both Montana and Wyoming), and the nearest large city is Rapid City. There is so much to see and do in the Black Hills – history, nature, culture, etc. We will need to go back as we weren’t able to see it all!
A fun historical site to visit is the town of Deadwood. Established in the 1870s as a mining town, the main street of today still has that old west charm. The streets are made of brick and the storefronts are reminiscent of that era.
Deadwood is also the home of Saloon No. 10, where Wild Bill Hickock was shot and killed while playing poker. He, along with Calamity Jane, are buried the Deadwood Cemetery.
The Black Hills are a geological wonderland with impressive rock outcroppings and many caves. A fun drive is called the Needles Highway within Custer State Park. The needles are references to tall granite outcroppings. In some places, the highway goes through the needles! Be sure you aren’t in a hurry for this drive.
The Jewel Cave system is the second longest system in the U.S. and the fifth longest in the world, having had over 230 miles of the cave mapped. However, scientists believe only about five percent of the cave system has actually been mapped!
Of course, the most well-known site within the Black Hills is Mt. Rushmore. For centuries (and still today) this is considered sacred by native tribes such as the Arapaho, Cheyenne, and Lakota Sioux. The Lakota called the mountain "Six Grandfathers" symbolizing the six directions: north, south, east, west, above (sky), and below (earth). In the 1920s there was a movement to use the site to honor four American presidents. Created between 1929 and 1941, it demonstrates an inspiring artistic endeavor as well an impressive engineering feat.
The visitors center at Mt. Rushmore has an impressive display and video story to the efforts taken to create this monument.
There is much more to see in the Black Hills . . . Sturgis for motorcycle enthusiasts, Custer State Park, the Badlands . . . the list goes on and on!
My name is Barry Branaugh and I am a retired high school history teacher from Redmond, Oregon, who became a travel advisor in 2023.
I have a passion for travel, but also get great fulfillment out of helping others achieve their travel dreams!
In North America I have traveled to 45 of the 50 US states, Canada, Mexico, and Belize.
In Europe I have traveled to Ireland, all four countries withing the United Kingdom, France, Germany, Czech Republic, Poland, Hungary, Slovakia, Austria, Portugal, and Spain.
Reach out to Barry to get started planning your next adventure
541-480-3889
And follow him on social;
Instagram: cnc_barry_branaugh
Comments