Black Hills Mining Museum

See the life of a gold miner and learn about the history of Lead, South Dakota.

The Black Hill Mining Museum is dedicated to preserving the mining heritage of the Black Hills through displays and exhibits. This museum was built by miners that worked in the now closed, nearby Homestake Gold Mine. These miners want to preserve the mining history and tell the story of hard rock mining in the Black Hills. Visitors can watch a video that explains mining and how the miners work.

There are artifacts, mining clothing, and mining equipment that has been used through the years, which depict how mining has changed over time. The tour is fantastic with many of the guides having relatives that have worked in mines or worked in a mine themselves, adding personal stories and facts that make the tour even more interesting. The tours last about 45 minutes to 1.5 hours depending on the group. Visitors will venture below the museum to a simulated mine that goes through the various progressions on what it was like to mine. During the summer months, visitors can also try mining for gold inside the building.