Big Thunder Gold Mine

Big Thunder Gold Mine in Hill City sits in the heart of the Black Hills, the epicenter of South Dakota's 1870s gold rush. The region was opened to prospectors after General Custer's 1874 expedition confirmed gold deposits on land that the Fort Laramie Treaty had guaranteed to the Lakota Sioux — a broken promise that sparked both a rush of settlers and renewed conflict. Guided tours lead visitors through preserved underground tunnels, illustrating the working conditions and tools of 19th-century hard-rock miners. The site makes for an accessible and educational stop for families traveling the Black Hills.