By Melissa Voelker
Traveling through the Black Hills of South Dakota is not only a great opportunity to sightsee, but also a great opportunity to take an educational journey through the history of the area and the
United States. Whether visiting a museum showcasing the lives of pioneers, or visiting a museum showcasing the final days of a Native American tribe, or even visiting an old west town populated by living history actors, you can have fun and learn something all at the same time.
Visit the Deadwood Adams Museum
The Deadwood Adams Museum was built in 1930 by Mayor W.E. Adams and pays tribute to the Black Hills pioneers. Along with social gatherings, concerts, and art festivals, it gives an insider's glimpse into history with exhibits of folk art, Lakota bead and quill work, historic photos, and other artifacts. Admission for a self-guided tour of the museum is free though a donation amount of $5 for adults and $2 per child 10 and under is appreciated. Group tours are also available for groups over 15 for $2 per person. Summer hours for the Deadwood Adams Museum are from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. (daily) from May through September. Winter hours are Tuesday through Saturday from 10 a.m. 4 p.m. from October through April.
Deadwood Adams Museum
54 Sherman St
Deadwood, SD 57732
(605) 578-1714
Visit Four Mile Old West Town
Four Mile Old West Town offers around 50 furnished homes and businesses for you to peruse, with artifacts tagged to explain their purposes that you can touch and experience for yourself. They have authentic historical documents such as Apprentice Agreements, Courtship letters, Homesteader letters, Grade school exams and Civil War identification documents. Boardwalks, stone walkways, wagon rutted paths, a Town Hall, Saloon, Church, General Store, Sheriff's Office and even Dakota Territory Jails are all open and available for you to walk through and learn about. There are even living history demonstrations that will allow you to see what life was like for the settlers that once lived in town. You can stay all day because snacks are available at the chuck wagon. Self-guided tours are available anytime from open to close. Four Mile Old West Town is open from Memorial Day through Labor Day, Monday through Saturday from 8:30 a.m. to 8:30 p.m. and Sunday from 10 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. (opening and closing dates may depend on the weather).
Four Mile Old West Town
11921 West Highway 16
Custer, SD 57730
(605) 673-3905
Visit the Wounded Knee Museum
For a more sobering look at the history of the Black Hills and the United States itself, a trip to the Wounded Knee "narrative museum" may be in order. Here visitors walk through exhibits that tell of the story of the Wounded Knee Massacre and the events leading up to it. They present artifacts, photographs, maps and other documents to show the story of the band of Lakota Native Americans who were the focus of the Wounded Knee Massacre in 1890. The museum is open 8:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Admission for adults is $5 and children 12 and under are free. Group tours are available as well as tour maps for self-guided explorations.
Wounded Knee Museum
Exit 110, I-90
Wall, SD
(605) 279-2573
About the Author:
Melissa Voelker has been a professional writer since 2002. She works full time at a TV station in the commercial traffic department and also writes for Paperbackreader.com and Pinkraygun.com. Her articles have appeared in "Listen," "The Spokesman Review" and "Freepress Houston."
