Lawrence County: Mining History, Museums and Nature

When searching for a hotel in Lawrence County, you can tailor your stay to your interests: mining history, museums, trails and waterfalls offer different focal points. Specific landmarks range from the Lawrence County Courthouse and the Homestake Gold Mine to cultural sites in Deadwood and Lead, as well as the landscapes of Spearfish Canyon. The details below can help you choose themes for your trip.

History and Mining

The Lawrence County Courthouse was built in 1906. Lawrence County is also home to the Homestake Gold Mine, considered the world's longest-operating gold mine. Deadwood was designated a National Historic Landmark in 1961. These sites provide a tangible framework for mining and regional history, without requiring you to focus your plans on a single theme.

The Adams Museum was founded in 1930 to preserve and exhibit the history of the Black Hills. Its exhibits include Potato Creek Johnny's gold nugget, which weighs 7.346 troy ounces. The Thoen Stone is also on display there: its inscription recounts a gold discovery by the Ezra Kind group in the Black Hills in the 1830s. If you want to distinguish historical accounts from exhibited objects, this comparison offers a particularly vivid starting point.

The historic Mount Moriah Cemetery in Deadwood includes, among others, the graves of Wild Bill Hickok and Calamity Jane. At 610 Main Street, The Brothel Deadwood offers a tour of the rooms at the original site of the Shasta Rooms, also known as the Beige Door Brothel. The tour and the cemetery offer different perspectives: one focuses on a specific historic site, the other on the stories of two well-known figures.

The Days of ’76 event takes place every year during the last week of July. If you want to include this event in your trip, check the dates against your travel plans.

Museums and Trails Around Lead

Founded in 1896, the D.C. Booth Historic National Fish Hatchery is one of the country's oldest continuously operating fish hatcheries. Its exhibits include the country's only federal railroad car exhibit devoted to fisheries history. Alongside mining and local histories, it offers a distinct perspective on fish farming and fisheries history.

The Homestake Opera House in Lead was built in 1914. The Sanford Lab Homestake Visitor Center at 160 West Main Street offers seasonal trolley rides through Lead. As these rides are offered seasonally, check the schedule for your preferred travel dates before your trip.

The Homestake Gold Run Park Trail runs above the site of the Homestake Mining Company's gold mills and features interpretive signs, a public restroom and a paved, ADA-compliant path. The Homestake Trail, by contrast, is 5.7 miles long, non-motorized and runs between Lead and Deadwood; it can be used for hiking and biking. The George S. Mickelson Trail offers a broader range of activities: it is open to hikers, bikers, horseback riders, cross-country skiers and snowshoers. This lets you distinguish between an interpretive trail with named amenities, a route with two specified uses and a trail with additional activities.

Spearfish Canyon and Nature Trails

Spearfish Canyon offers hiking trails, waterfalls and a scenic drive. Its narrow rock walls reach about 1,000 feet high and rank among the most impressive landscapes in the Black Hills. Bridal Veil Falls plunge about 60 feet. Spearfish Falls lie in the heart of the canyon and are the largest waterfall along the Scenic Byway. The trail to the falls begins on the north side of the Latchstring Inn Restaurant.

There are also different points of reference for planning a route: US Highway 14A runs for nearly 20 miles through Spearfish Canyon, from the city of Spearfish to Cheyenne Crossing. The Spearfish Rec Path is a 7.5-mile recreational trail that runs through the city of Spearfish. This lets you choose between a drive through the canyon, a visit to a waterfall and a route through the city, without combining these different options into a single outing.

Discover More Destinations

Discover more destinations: Spearfish, Deadwood, Lead, Minnehaha, Perkins County, Charles Mix County, Grant County, Fall River County.

For the main travel overview: South Dakota.