About
Prospectors began arriving in the Black Hills in the mid-1870s. Very quickly, “Lead City” was transformed into a thriving community built around the gold-mining industry. In the early mining years, miners hammered the rock with picks, their way lit with candlelight, and mushed mules pulling carts filled with ore. In later generations, miners broke the rock with pneumatic drills and powerful explosives, producing a seemingly limitless stream of riches.
We invite you to visit our exhibit hall, where you’ll find exciting information about Sanford Underground Research Facility (Sanford Lab), the city of Lead, and the history of Homestake. Our exhibits include historic photographs, videos, science and mining artifacts, and a 3-D model of the underground—from the surface down to the 8,000-foot level! From our deck, view the 1,250-foot-deep Open Cut, an iconic landmark in the Black Hills, and see the many varieties of rock that created this unique landscape.
