The Gold Rush

Discover the captivating history of the Black Hills as you retrace routes from military expeditions to gold rush boomtowns. Unearth the legacy of gold camps, daring exploits, and stunning national parks using self-guided tours enriched with detailed maps and vivid photographs along every historic stop.

From military expeditions to gold mining boomtowns, outlandish business ventures to stunning national parks, the Black Hills teem with history as rich as their natural beauty. Inspired by field trips that he organized at Black Hills State University, David A. Wolff has distilled decades of experience exploring, researching, and teaching the history of this majestic region into accessible and informative self-guided tours.

The discovery of gold in the Lakotas'' sacred Paha Sapa in 1874 quickly attracted thousands of people in search of easy fortune, transforming the Black Hills into a series of gold camps. In "The Gold Rush," you can follow in their footsteps, from Custer to Hill City, Keystone to Galena, Deadwood to Mystic and beyond. Featuring maps by the South Dakota Department of Transportation and dozens of photographs, Wolff''s historical synopsis provides just the right amount of context for each site on the route, along with precise mileage and directions. By tour''s end, you will have completed a mini-course in Black Hills history!